Jailed British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah pardoned by Egypt president’s office

Laila Soueif (centre), the mother of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, went on hunger strike (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Egyptian authorities on Monday announced the presidential pardon of prominent British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been in prison for almost all of the past 12 years.

A statement from the president’s office said that another five prisoners were also pardoned. It was not immediately clear when they will walk free.