Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah arrived UK

High-profile activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who was released from prison after an Egyptian presidential pardon in September, has arrived in Britain, the Egyptian-British campaigner's family and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday.



Abd el-Fattah has become Egypt's most prominent political prisoner after spending much of his adult life in and out of detention due to his activism, and a rare symbol of opposition to a far-reaching crackdown under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.



The lengthy imprisonment of Abd el-Fattah, who obtained British citizenship through his mother, Laila Soueif, in 2021, and his repeated hunger strikes alongside her prompted widespread international pleas for his release.



She confirmed his return on Facebook: "Praise be to Allah, Alaa reached London safely".



In a longer statement, his family said he flew to Britain on Friday from Cairo after his travel ban was lifted by Egyptian authorities on December 20.



The statement said ⁠he would shortly be reunited with his 14-year-old son Khaled, who lives in Brighton in southern England with his mother.