British-Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was stopped from flying to the UK by Egyptian passport control earlier this week, his family says.
Mr Abdel Fattah, 43, was Egypt's best-known political prisoner until seven weeks ago, when he was released from jail after being granted a pardon by President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
He attempted to fly to London on Tuesday with his sister Sanaa, but was told by officials at Cairo International Airport that he was not allowed to travel.
They blocked him from boarding the flight and I had to go alone, Sanaa told the BBC's Today programme on Friday. There was no immediate comment from the Egyptian government.
They didn't explain much. Our lawyers in Egypt are trying to understand the legal grounds, Sanaa added. She mentioned that her brother had both a British passport and a recently renewed Egyptian passport.
I assumed after the renewal of the Egyptian passport that he would be allowed to travel, she stated.
Alaa Abdel Fattah's 13-year-old son, Khaled, lives with his mother in Brighton and needs proper access to his father. His family is pressing for the UK government to prioritize this issue.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated that they are in talks with the Egyptian government to ensure Abdel Fattah can return to the UK in order to be reunited with his family.
This incident comes shortly after Abdel Fattah was honored with the 2025 Magnitsky Award for 'Courage Under Fire', which his sister accepted on his behalf.
Abdel Fattah is known for his role during the 2011 uprising in Egypt and has faced multiple imprisonments under President Sisi's regime, which has seen a crackdown on dissent.
