Egypt's President el-Sisi grants pardon to prominent activist Douma and others, ending years of imprisonment

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has granted a presidential pardon to prominent activist Ahmed Douma, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for rioting and attacking security forces. Douma was a leading figure in the 2011 pro-democracy uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. The pardon is part of a larger release of prisoners by el-Sisi, who has been accused of cracking down on pro-democracy campaigners and Islamists. Critics argue that the pardons are merely cosmetic, as arrests continue and many prominent activists remain in prison. The pardon also comes ahead of Egypt's presidential election in 2024, with el-Sisi expected to run for re-election.