Alaa Abdel Fattah Arrives in UK After Release from Egyptian Prison Amid Controversy
Alaa Abdel Fattah arrived in the UK this week after being released from an Egyptian prison where he was convicted in 2021 of spreading fake news. He had spent more than a decade jailed before his release in September, which followed a long campaign led by his family and lobbying from the British government. Abdel Fattah was granted British citizenship in December 2021 through his London-born mother and has a 14-year-old son who lives in Brighton.
His arrival has sparked controversy among British politicians and community groups. Conservative MPs, including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, have called for his citizenship to be revoked and for him to be deported, arguing that Abdel Fattah's social media posts display extremist views incompatible with British values. Jenrick urged for removal proceedings and criticized ministers who celebrated the arrival as a diplomatic success.
The Foreign Office stated that Abdel Fattah's case was a long-standing consular priority aimed at securing his release and family reunion, but condemned his social media posts. The posts allegedly advocate violence toward Zionists and police, including claims that police have no rights and should be killed.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed profound concern about the case, warning that the rhetoric threatens British Jews and reflects a lack of due diligence by authorities. Labour leader Keir Starmer faced criticism after saying he was delighted by Abdel Fattah's return; Labour sources later clarified that he had been unaware of these posts prior to this week.
