British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has been freed and reunited with his family after spending the past six years in jail in Egypt.
One of the country's most prominent political prisoners, he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi on Monday.
Video of the blogger and pro-democracy activist, 43, at home following his release showed him grinning widely and jumping up and down as he celebrated with his mother Laila Soueif and sister Sanaa Seif.
His other sister, Mona Seif, told the BBC from the UK his release was a moment of collective hope.
She said she hoped it would mark the beginning of the release of other political prisoners detained under Sisi's rule and the end of what she called a very dark chapter.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the pardon, saying she was grateful to President Sisi for this decision.
Abdel Fattah was released from Wadi al-Natrun prison late on Monday and celebrated reuniting with his family at his mother's apartment in Giza.
His mother, 68, who launched a 287-day hunger strike last September to protest against his imprisonment, told reporters: I can't even describe what I feel.
We're happy, of course. But our greatest joy will come when there are no [political] prisoners in Egypt, she added.
In an interview with the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, his sister Mona expressed her anticipation to see Alaa, stating: It has been the longest 12 years of this madness, and nightmare and heartache, and also journey full of love and ups and downs. And now Alaa is out, Alaa is free, Alaa is home.
Abdel Fattah gained prominence during the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. He has faced repeated detentions under President Sisi’s regime, which is criticized for widespread suppression of dissent.
While in prison, he was sentenced multiple times on charges widely deemed unfair. Nevertheless, his release is viewed as a crucial step towards improving Egypt's human rights situation.
Mona Seif expressed hope that this moment could be a turning point for the thousands still wrongfully imprisoned, urging that no family should have to endure such suffering.
