Successive British governments are facing intense scrutiny over their decision to campaign for the release of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, after a series of his past violent and offensive social media posts came to light.
Backlash Over Historical Posts
The dissident's return to the UK on Friday, after years of detention in Egypt, was swiftly overshadowed by the emergence of historical remarks in which he appeared to advocate violence against "Zionists" and the police. This has prompted a widespread backlash and serious questions for both the current Labour administration and its Conservative predecessors.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially welcomed el-Fattah's return, stating his release had been a "top priority" for the government. However, it is understood Starmer was not aware of the online posts at the time. Following their disclosure, the Foreign Office condemned the "abhorrent" remarks made by the dual national.
A Cross-Party Campaign Under Review
The campaign to secure el-Fattah's freedom was supported by multiple administrations. He was granted British citizenship in 2021 under Boris Johnson's government, a decision that would have involved the Home Office, then led by Priti Patel, and the Foreign Office under Liz Truss. Both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer later continued to lobby for his release from Egyptian prison.
However, Jewish organisations have strongly criticised the "effusive" official response. The Board of Deputies of British Jews stated the cross-party campaign demonstrated "an astonishing lack of due diligence by the authorities". The Jewish Leadership Council said it was "appalled" by the welcome given to someone who had advocated for killing Zionists.
Political Regret and Calls for Action
The revelation has led to swift political repercussions. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick called for el-Fattah to be stripped of his dual citizenship and deported, describing the PM's welcome as a "serious error of judgment".
Several Tory politicians who lobbied for the activist now express regret. Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said he would not have signed a letter calling for el-Fattah's release had he known of the views, which he called "utterly abhorrent", and urged a police investigation. Tory MP Alicia Kearns said she felt "deeply let down, and frankly betrayed".
El-Fattah, a leading figure in Egypt's 2011 Arab Spring, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2021 on charges of "spreading false news". His imprisonment was labelled a breach of international law by UN investigators. His release and return to London followed a high-profile campaign led by his mother, Laila Soueif.
The UK government now faces mounting pressure to explain how such a concerted, cross-party effort was mobilised for an individual whose controversial public statements had previously cost him a nomination for the European Parliament's Sakharov prize in 2014.
