Tories and Labour Under Fire Over Support for Alaa Abd el-Fattah

The Controversy Surrounding Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s Return to the UK

The return of British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah to the United Kingdom has sparked a significant debate, with his past social media posts coming under intense scrutiny. These posts, which included violent and offensive remarks towards “Zionists” and the police, have led to widespread criticism from various sectors, including Jewish organizations and political figures.

Keir Starmer, the current Prime Minister, faced backlash after initially welcoming Abd el-Fattah back to the UK, stating that his release had been a “top priority” for the government. However, it is now understood that the prime minister was not aware of the online posts at the time of his return. This revelation has prompted calls for greater due diligence in future cases involving foreign nationals.

A Widespread Backlash

Jewish organizations have criticized the “effusive” response to Abd el-Fattah's return, arguing that the years-long campaign to secure his release by both Labour and Conservative administrations demonstrated a “lack of due diligence.” The UK Foreign Office has condemned the “abhorrent” remarks made by the dual national, who was granted British citizenship in 2021 by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated: “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.”

Historical Context and Previous Incidents

Abd el-Fattah's past actions have not gone unnoticed. His social media posts cost him a nomination for the European parliament’s Sakharov prize in 2014. The group backing him withdrew their nomination, citing a tweet from 2012 in which he called for the murder of Israelis. In 2015, he claimed his comments had been taken out of context, describing them as part of a “private conversation” during an Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The decision to grant citizenship would have been made by the Home Office, which was led by Priti Patel at the time, advised by the Foreign Office, where Liz Truss was foreign secretary and James Cleverly was the minister for the region. Successive Tory prime ministers, including Rishi Sunak, have also called for Abd el-Fattah's release, making it a priority for their governments.

Political Reactions and Calls for Accountability

When Labour came to power, Starmer continued lobbying the Egyptian president over Abd el-Fattah's imprisonment, making three calls to his Egyptian counterpart. The UK national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, also personally urged the Egyptians to end the detention. The campaign for the release of one of Egypt’s most prominent political prisoners became a cause célèbre in the UK, where his mother, Laila Soueif, almost died while on hunger strike over his detention.

Abd el-Fattah finally arrived in London on Friday after Egypt lifted a travel ban it had imposed on him despite releasing him from jail in September. In 2021, he had been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “spreading false news” after sharing a Facebook post about torture in the country.

Criticism and Calls for Deportation

Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, called for Abd el-Fattah to be stripped of his dual citizenship and deported, suggesting he should “be made to live in Egypt or frankly anywhere else in the world.” Writing to the prime minister about his words welcoming the activist’s return to the UK, Jenrick stated: “Given Mr Abd el-Fattah’s record of extremist statements about violence, Jews and the police, it was a serious error of judgment.”

Nigel Farage also entered the debate, reporting Abd el-Fattah to counter-terrorism police over his remarks. He argued that while Robert Jenrick was right to criticize Starmer, it was the Tory government that started the campaign, and Labour was merely following suit.

Regrets and Calls for Investigation

Several Tory politicians who lobbied for Abd el-Fattah’s release have since expressed regret. Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative party leader, urged the police to investigate the nature of these extremist comments. Alicia Kearns, a former chair of the foreign affairs select committee, said she felt deeply let down and betrayed by her support for his cause.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews raised concerns with the UK government over Abd el-Fattah’s remarks, emphasizing the need to determine whether he still holds the views expressed online. They described his previous extremist and violent rhetoric as threatening to British Jews and the wider public.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Alaa Abd el-Fattah's return highlights the complexities of international relations and the importance of thorough vetting processes. As the debate continues, questions remain about the role of successive governments in supporting individuals whose past actions may conflict with national values.