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Prime Minister expresses regret over activist's UK arrival
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has admitted regret for welcoming British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah to the country after resurfaced social media posts revealed calls to kill Zionists. Speaking to the BBC, Starmer called the posts "abhorrent" and acknowledged a systemic failure in vetting procedures.
Background of the case
Abd El Fattah, a dual national, was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 under the Conservative government. His release from an Egyptian prison followed a decade-long campaign by his family and British officials, including lobbying by successive governments. He arrived in the UK on Boxing Day, reuniting with his 14-year-old son in Brighton.
Resurfaced posts spark outrage
Social media posts from 2012, including one where Abd El Fattah described killing Zionists as "heroic," quickly drew condemnation. Other posts included racist remarks about white people and calls to kill police. The Board of Deputies of British Jews labeled the case a "profound concern," citing an "astonishing lack of due diligence."
"His previous extremist and violent rhetoric aimed at 'Zionists' and white people in general is threatening to British Jews and the wider public."
Adrian Cohen, Board of Deputies of British Jews
Political fallout and calls for citizenship review
Conservative, Reform UK, and some Labour MPs have demanded Abd El Fattah's citizenship be revoked. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused past governments of "opening our doors to evil people" and vowed to change laws to enable deportation. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick argued the activist's views were "incompatible with British values."
Starmer defended the initial decision to intervene, framing it as a consular obligation to assist a British national allegedly mistreated abroad. He noted that previous prime ministers had acted similarly in such cases.
Government response and next steps
Starmer has launched a review into the vetting failure, stating he was "not very pleased" upon learning of the oversight. Abd El Fattah has apologized for the posts, calling them "expressions of a young man's anger," though his Facebook account later liked a post dismissing criticism as a "smear campaign" by Zionist groups.
Citizenship stripping is typically reserved for national security threats, such as terrorism or organized crime. The government has not confirmed whether it will pursue this option.
