Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi issued on Saturday decree no. 348 of 2023 on releasing a number of convicts, including Ahmed Saad Doma.
Tarek El-Khouly, a member of parliament who sits on the presidential pardon committee, wrote on social media early Saturday afternoon that Douma was among the prisoners who would be pardoned under a decree Sisi issued on Saturday. Several hours later, videos shared on social media showed a grinning Douma outside of the prison, hugging friends and fellow activists who had gathered to greet him.
Thirty-four other, less-prominent prisoners also received pardons Saturday, according to an official decree and a separate list published on social media by Tarek El-Awady, a member of the presidential pardon committee.
Egyptian human rights defenders and former political prisoners hailed the decision to free Douma.
