Egypt has released a high-profile activist who was jailed alongside Australian journalist Peter Greste.

Egyptian local Alaa Abdel Fattah, a key figure in the Arab Spring, was set to serve 15 years imprisonment in November 2013, but later had his sentence reduced to five years.

His family and supporters have maintained his innocence since his arrest, and are reportedly “overjoyed” at the news of his release - however, the family said the release process has not yet begun.