An Egyptian-American jailed in Egypt for nearly two years for involvement in the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood has been released and is headed for the United States, his family said yesterday.

Mohamed Soltan was among thousands detained after Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was toppled in 2013 by the military under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, now President.

An Egyptian court had condemned Soltan’s father, Salah, to death. “By the grace of God, we are incredibly happy to confirm that Mohamed is on his way home after nearly two years in captivity,” wrote Soltan’s sister Hanaa on Facebook.

“After extensive efforts, the US Government has successfully secured Mohamed’s deportation back home to the US, mercifully concluding this dark chapter for Mohamed and our family.”

He was on a hunger strike in detention

The family has run a campaign to free her 27-year-old brother, who had been on hunger strike in detention and has appeared emaciated in photographs. His US citizenship meant US officials had called for an end to his detention, citing concerns about his health.

The US welcomed his release yesterday, with a State Department official saying: “We believe this step brings a conclusion to this case and we are glad Mr Soltan will now be reunited with his family in the United States.”

A court said Mohamed had supported the Islamist movement and transmitted false news. His family denies he was a member of the Brotherhood, unlike his father, who was a senior figure in the group.

“As you can imagine, after spending several hundred days on hunger strike, and many months in solitary confinement, Mohamed’s health is dire,” said Hanaa.

“He will receive medical treatment as soon as he arrives on US soil and will spend the immediate future with his family recovering.”