Prominent Egyptian-British democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah has issued an unequivocal apology for a series of historic social media posts that have resurfaced following his arrival in the United Kingdom. The posts, some dating back to 2010, have sparked a political controversy and calls for a review of his British citizenship status.
Release, Reunion, and Resurfaced Posts
Mr Abd El-Fattah, a dual national, was detained in Egypt in September 2019 and later sentenced to five years in prison in December 2021 on charges of spreading false news. His case drew international condemnation, with UN investigators branding his imprisonment a breach of international law. After years of lobbying by successive UK governments, he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September 2025.
He subsequently flew to the UK on Boxing Day 2025, where he was reunited with his son in Brighton after a travel ban was lifted. However, his arrival was quickly overshadowed by the emergence of old tweets in which he appeared to call for violence against Zionists and the police.
An Apology and Claims of Misrepresentation
In a statement released on Monday 29 December, the activist expressed dismay that the tweets were being used to question his integrity just as he reunited with his family. "I am shaken that, just as I am being reunited with my family for the first time in 12 years, several historic tweets of mine have been republished and used to question and attack my integrity and values," he said.
He offered an "unequivocally" apology for the content, describing the posts as "expressions of a young man’s anger and frustrations" during periods of regional conflict and police brutality in Egypt. However, he also contended that some posts had been "completely twisted out of their meaning" or misunderstood.
He specifically cited examples where tweets were misrepresented as homophobic or as Holocaust denial, asserting he was actually ridiculing such views. "I take accusations of antisemitism very seriously," he added, stating his longstanding opposition to sectarianism and racism.
Political Fallout and Citizenship Scrutiny
The resurfaced tweets have prompted significant political reaction in the UK. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage have called on the Home Secretary to investigate whether Mr Abd El-Fattah can be stripped of his UK citizenship and deported.
Ms Badenoch, writing in the Daily Mail, stated, "I do not want people who hate Britain coming to our country." She argued that such public statements must be considered in citizenship decisions. The activist was granted British citizenship in December 2021 under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, reportedly through his UK-born mother.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed his status as a British citizen and its role in securing his release, but also condemned the historic tweets as "abhorrent." Jewish community organisations, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, have voiced serious concerns, urging the government to ascertain whether he still holds the views expressed online and highlighting community safety fears.
Mr Abd El-Fattah concluded his statement by thanking those in the UK who campaigned for his release, acknowledging their support as "honourable." The episode continues to raise complex questions at the intersection of human rights advocacy, free speech, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
