Egypt urged to release activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah as sentence ends

Alaa Abdel-Fattah, a well-known Egyptian activist, is set to complete a five-year prison sentence next week. His imprisonment has lasted most of the past decade, reflecting the harsh realities of political dissent in Egypt. Initially sentenced in 2014 for participating in an unauthorized protest, he was released in 2019 but was rearrested later that year amid a crackdown on anti-government protests. In late 2021, he received another five-year sentence for spreading false news. Abdel-Fattah's case has garnered significant attention from both local and international rights organizations, with over 59 groups advocating for his release. His family has been vocal about their concerns, particularly regarding his health, as he undertook a hunger strike in 2022 to protest his conditions. The situation has drawn attention to the broader issue of political repression in Egypt, where thousands of political prisoners are believed to be held. The Egyptian government, under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, has been criticized for its crackdown on dissent, which includes jailing activists, banning protests, and monitoring social media. Human Rights Watch estimates that around 60,000 political prisoners are currently incarcerated in the country, highlighting the scale of the issue. As Abdel-Fattah's release date approaches, his family and rights groups are urging authorities to allow him to go free, emphasizing that each additional day he spends in prison is a violation of his rights. The call for his release is part of a larger campaign to address human rights abuses in Egypt and advocate for the rights of political prisoners.