Starmer Faces Pressure Over Citizenship of Released Activist

Sir Keir Starmer is currently under significant pressure to revoke the UK citizenship of Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who was recently released from detention in Egypt. The calls for action come after the resurfacing of Abd El-Fattah’s past social media posts, which include statements deemed “extremist” and inciting violence. His case has ignited a heated debate regarding citizenship rights and the implications of past actions.

Abd El-Fattah was detained in Egypt in September 2019 and sentenced to five years in prison in December 2021 for charges related to spreading false news. His imprisonment drew international condemnation, characterized by UN investigators as a violation of human rights. Following extensive lobbying by both Conservative and Labour governments, he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September and arrived in the UK on Boxing Day, where he reunited with his son in Brighton after a travel ban was lifted.

Since his return, attention has turned to social media posts dating back to 2010. In these posts, Abd El-Fattah appeared to advocate violence against Zionists and police forces. Although he has issued an “unequivocal” apology, he contends that some of these statements have been “completely twisted out of their meaning.”

Calls for the Home Secretary to investigate the potential revocation of Abd El-Fattah’s UK citizenship have emerged from prominent political figures. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, stated that it is “inconceivable” that no one recognized the implications of his published statements over the years. She emphasized that views threatening to the integrity of the nation should be taken into account when decisions on citizenship are made.

Opposition voices have also weighed in, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick describing Abd El-Fattah’s connection to the UK as “tenuous at best.” He suggested the activist was granted citizenship due to a “loophole” stemming from his UK-born mother. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to revoke Abd El-Fattah’s citizenship, criticizing the failure of all political parties involved in his case to conduct proper due diligence.

The UK government, responding to the situation, stated that “Mr El-Fattah is a British citizen” and underscored its long-standing commitment to securing his release and family reunification. The Foreign Office condemned Abd El-Fattah’s historical tweets, labeling them as “abhorrent.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has expressed concern regarding Abd El-Fattah’s past comments and the potential threat they pose to British Jews. They emphasized the need for urgent clarification on whether he still holds the views expressed in his online posts, which they consider to be threatening.

The Jewish Leadership Council echoed these concerns, particularly in light of recent antisemitic incidents in the UK and abroad. They criticized the warm reception Abd El-Fattah received from the UK government, questioning the alignment of his previous statements with the government’s commitment to combat antisemitism.

Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith expressed regret over his advocacy for Abd El-Fattah’s release, urging the police to investigate his comments. MP Alicia Kearns, who previously supported Abd El-Fattah, admitted feeling “deeply let down” upon discovering his past tweets. She called for a clear disavowal of the hatred expressed in his statements, stressing that such views are incompatible with British values.

Abd El-Fattah, recognized as a prominent voice during Egypt’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising, has a history of activism, which includes engaging in hunger strikes during his imprisonment. His controversial online comments had previously led to the withdrawal of his nomination for the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize in 2014, following the discovery of a tweet in which he called for the murder of Israelis.

As the debate continues to unfold, the question of how past actions and statements impact citizenship rights remains a focal point in UK politics, reflecting broader concerns about national values and security in the context of immigration and human rights.