Keir Starmer has expressed remorse for his previous statement of being pleased about the return of democracy advocate Alaa Abd el-Fattah to the UK, following the resurfacing of controversial social media posts.
The Prime Minister has voiced dissatisfaction over not being informed about “offensive” posts made by the British-Egyptian dual national dating back to 2010, where he appeared to endorse violence against Zionists and law enforcement.
El-Fattah, a prominent figure in the Arab Spring uprisings, entered the UK on Boxing Day after being allowed to travel following his release from incarceration. Although he has apologized for his remarks, members of the Conservative and Reform parties have called for his citizenship to be revoked, but there are currently no plans to do so.
Last week, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper initiated an investigation into “significant lapses in information” that led to senior officials and politicians being unaware of the controversial posts.
When pressed on whether he would issue an apology, Starmer admitted regret during an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, acknowledging that the lack of awareness within the government system was a failure that should not have occurred.
El-Fattah obtained UK citizenship in December 2021 under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His imprisonment on charges of disseminating false information was deemed a violation of international law by UN investigators. He was eventually pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September after extensive lobbying efforts by both Conservative and Labour administrations.
Arriving in the UK on December 26, El-Fattah reunited with his son residing in Brighton. He has since expressed remorse for his past comments, acknowledging the hurtful nature of his remarks during times of regional turmoil and unrest, attributing them to youthful anger and frustration.
Although Downing Street condemned the posts as “offensive,” they recognized El-Fattah’s apology as heartfelt. The PM’s spokesperson emphasized the government’s commitment to upholding religious and political freedoms, while firmly denouncing the historical tweets as abhorrent.
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