Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) on Monday, September 22, welcomed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi’s decision to pardon six prisoners, among them British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, saying the move demonstrates the President’s constitutional authority and reflects a growing respect for rights and freedoms. The pardons, which followed a direct appeal by the NCHR on September 8 and requests from the prisoners’ families, are seen by the Council as an important step towards ensuring punishment is proportionate and focused on rehabilitation. According to the NCHR, this decision supports Egypt’s National Human Rights Strategy and helps foster institutional cooperation, social peace, and trust between citizens and the state. The Council reaffirmed its commitment to pursue reforms in penal policy, to expand alternatives to incarceration, and to ensure Egypt adheres to both constitutional obligations and its international agreements.