Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is under mounting pressure to deport a controversial Egyptian activist before the UK faces a legal blockade that could force it to harbour him indefinitely.
Race Against Time to Avoid Statelessness
The urgent calls centre on Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who arrived in Britain last week after a prolonged campaign secured his release from an Egyptian prison. The crisis stems from reports that the Egyptian government in Cairo is considering revoking his Egyptian citizenship.
Under international law, the UK cannot remove a person's British citizenship if it would render them stateless. If Egypt acts first, Britain would lose the legal avenue to deport him, potentially leaving the UK 'stuck with him'.
Historical Tweets Spark Outrage
The campaign for deportation ignited after critics unearthed a series of El-Fattah's old social media posts. These historical tweets contained calls for the murder of Jews and police officers, alongside expressions of hatred towards white people.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated: 'The Labour Government needs to strip Alaa Abd El-Fattah of the undeserved British citizenship handed to him by the Tories and kick this Egyptian hatemonger out of the country. Now, before it is too late.'
He warned that if Cairo revokes his Egyptian citizenship first, 'we will be stuck with him.'
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed the sentiment, saying: 'This man has expressed racist anti-white, anti-Semitic and violent views. He has no place in the UK and should be deported urgently.'
Apology and a Geopolitical Gambit
El-Fattah has since issued a partial apology for his past remarks. However, analysts suggest this may play into Cairo's hands. Egyptian security analyst Khaled Hass indicated that removing his Egyptian citizenship could be a calculated move to embarrass the Starmer government.
'Such a move would place the British Government in a bind,' Hass said. 'The message is clear. You got involved. You didn't need to. It's your mess now.'
El-Fattah was granted British citizenship in 2021 through his mother, who was born in the UK. A previous 'good character' test for this route was abolished in 2019 following a Supreme Court ruling.
While government sources suggest the legal bar for deprivation of citizenship is 'very high', critics point to powers under the British Nationality Act allowing removal of individuals deemed 'not conducive to the public good'. The clock is now ticking for the Home Secretary to make a decision.
