MPs reject calls to strip British-Egyptian activist of UK nationality over social media posts from a decade ago
Downing Street has defended its campaign for the release of a British-Egyptian activist and its decision to welcome him to the UK despite his “abhorrent” tweets a decade ago.
Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who arrived in London on Boxing Day after the British government successfully negotiated his release, said he apologised “unequivocally” for his posts after opposition parties called for him to be deported and his citizenship revoked.
Successive governments led by the Conservatives and Labour have advocated for Abd el-Fattah’s release over the past 10 years, almost all of which he has spent in prison in Egypt for his political beliefs, including his opposition to the treatment of dissidents.
Keir Starmer said he was “delighted” by Abd el-Fattah’s arrival on Friday but the development triggered a political storm after past tweets were unearthed including some in which Abd el-Fattah called for Zionists to be killed.
