Keir Starmer expressed regret over his previous statement of being pleased about the return of democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah to the UK after controversial social media posts resurfaced. The Prime Minister expressed frustration at not being informed earlier about the “abhorrent” comments made by el-Fattah in 2010, which included calls for violence against Zionists and the police.
El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian dual national known for his role in the Arab Spring protests, arrived in the UK on Boxing Day after being released from prison when a travel ban was lifted. Despite apologizing for his past remarks, politicians from the Tory and Reform parties have urged for his citizenship to be revoked, although there are currently no plans to do so.
Following revelations of the information oversight, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has initiated a review into the “serious information failures” that led to senior officials being unaware of el-Fattah’s controversial posts.
Keir Starmer acknowledged the oversight and expressed his regret during an interview, emphasizing the need for better communication within the government. He highlighted that the situation was a systemic failure and assured that corrective measures were being taken.
El-Fattah was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 under the administration of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His imprisonment on charges of spreading false news was criticized by UN investigators as a violation of international law. He was eventually pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September after lobbying efforts by both Conservative and Labour governments.
El-Fattah, upon his return to the UK and reuniting with his son in Brighton, issued an apology for his past comments, acknowledging their offensive nature and expressing remorse for the hurt caused. Downing Street described the controversial posts as “abhorrent” but noted that his apology was comprehensive.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman reiterated the government’s commitment to upholding religious and political freedoms while condemning the content of el-Fattah’s historic tweets as unacceptable.
