News Beat
Why Both The Tories And Labour Are Facing Backlash Over A Freed Egyptian Activist
Keir Starmer has just welcomed the news that an activist had been released from Egypt and returned to the UK after years of imprisonment.
But, no sooner had the prime minister confirmed the announcement than the Tories were pointing out Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s shocking old social media posts and attacking the government.
Then, to add a further twist, critics quickly noted that the Conservatives had been campaigning themselves to get the activist released when they were in power.
As the argument hots up online over who is in the wrong, here’s what you need to know.
Who is Alaa Abd El-Fattah?
A British-Egyptian dual national who was detained in Egypt in September 2019, he was sentenced to five years behind bars in December 2021 having been accused of spreading fake news.
However, the UN branded his imprisonment a breach of international law.
He finally returned to the UK on December 26, Boxing Day.
Starmer wrote on X: “I’m delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief.
“I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.
“Alaa’s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I’m grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon.”
What happened to his social media?
Abd El-Fattah’s release sparked an online deep dive into the activist’s old posts.
In some, dating back to 2010, his account appears to call for violence towards “Zionists” and the police.
To make matters worse for the government, these posts have been unearthed before.
In 2014, the group nominating the activist for the European parliament’s Sakharov prize even decided to withdraw their support for Abd El-Fattah over his anti-Israel posts.
The activist later claimed his online posts had been taken out of context and were written at a time of an Israeli offensive in Gaza.
What do the Tories have to do with this?
The Conservatives also pushed to get Abd El-Fattah released when they were in government and granted him citizenship.
Even so, shadow justice secretary and Tory MP Robert Jenrick has now called for him to be stripped of that citizenship and deported.
He condemned the PM for welcoming Abd El-Fattah as a “serious error of judgement” in a public letter to Starmer.
How has it been received?
Successive governments are now in the spotlight over this incident.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said it had already flagged its worries with the government, adding: “The social media history that has emerged from Alaa Abd el-Fattah is of profound concern. His previous extremist and violent rhetoric aimed at ‘Zionists’ and white people in general is threatening to British Jews and the wider public.
“The cross-party campaign for such a person, and the warm welcome issued by the government, demonstrate a broken system with an astonishing lack of due diligence by the authorities.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also wrote on social media: “Whilst Robert Jenrick is right to criticise Starmer … we must not forget that it was the Tory government who started this … Labour are only doing the same as the Tories, just worse.”
Tory MP Alicia Kearns said: “I trusted the process to give Alaa citizenship, and then supported the campaign for his release. I feel deeply let down, and frankly betrayed, having lent my support to his cause, which I now regret.
“It is wholly improper for British citizens to be detained without due process by foreign states; however Alaa must unequivocally apologise and make clear he now wholly rejects the hatred and antisemitism he expressed, which is so wholly incompatible with British values.”
How has the government responded?
It’s understood that Starmer was not aware of Abd El-Fattah’s posts when he welcomed him back to the UK – but No.10 has made it clear it does not support his views.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “Mr el-Fattah is a British citizen. It has been a longstanding priority under successive governments to work for his release from detention, and to see him reunited with his family in the UK. The government condemns Mr el-Fattah’s historic tweets and considers them to be abhorrent.”
However, there’s a risk this issue could continue hanging over the government well into the new year, as opponents call for greater action.
