The UK government has condemned "abhorrent" social media posts made by Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who recently returned to the UK after being released from detention in Egypt. The posts, which appear to date back to 2010, include remarks that critics describe as xenophobic and anti-Semitic, with some calling for violence against Zionists. The Conservative Party is calling for Abd El-Fattah's citizenship to be revoked and for him to be deported, with some MPs expressing feelings of betrayal after having previously campaigned for his release.
Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch, among others, is demanding that Abd El-Fattah's citizenship be revoked, while the Foreign Office stated that the government condemns his historic tweets. This condemnation follows criticism from Jewish organizations who described the government's initial "effusive" response to his return as lacking due diligence, given his past rhetoric. They expressed concern for the safety of Jewish communities, viewing his return and the government's welcome as a stark reminder of the dangers they face.
Abd El-Fattah, a dual national, was detained in Egypt in September 2019 and sentenced to five years for spreading false news before being pardoned by the Egyptian president. His release was a long-standing priority for successive UK governments. Despite the controversy, the Prime Minister stated he was "delighted" Abd El-Fattah was reunited with his family, a sentiment echoed by other government officials. A No. 10 source clarified that welcoming his return was not an endorsement of his views, and the Prime Minister was reportedly unaware of the posts at the time. Some who previously lobbied for his release now regret their involvement, urging police to investigate his comments.