Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has issued a pardon for Alaa Abd El Fattah, a prominent detainee, along with five other individuals, according to a presidential statement released on Monday. The pardon applies to the remaining sentences of those listed. The presidential statement articulated that this decision underscores the state’s commitment to “strengthening human rights initiatives, promoting tolerance, and offering those pardoned the opportunity to begin a new life.” Mr. Abd El Fattah, 43, who has been imprisoned for much of the last 12 years, had reportedly anticipated his release in September following the completion of a five-year sentence. However, authorities had previously indicated that his two years of pretrial detention were not factored into that term. It was not immediately confirmed whether Mr. Abd El Fattah had been released at the time of the announcement.
Source: www.nytimes.com