Downing Street has stated it was correct for recently freed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah to issue an apology after what it termed "abhorrent" historic social media posts came to light. The posts, described as "shocking and hurtful," emerged following his return to the United Kingdom on Boxing Day after several years imprisoned in Egypt.
Apology and Government Response
The prime minister's official spokesperson addressed the issue, reiterating that Mr Abd El-Fattah's case had been worked on by successive governments. While condemning the content of the old tweets, the spokesperson emphasised that the activist's status as a British citizen remained unchanged and described his subsequent apology as both "right" and "unequivocal." This statement appears to diminish the likelihood of any move to strip him of his citizenship.
In a lengthy personal statement, Mr Abd El-Fattah expressed being "shaken" that the tweets were being used to question his integrity and had led to calls for his citizenship to be revoked. He stated: "Looking at the tweets now - the ones that were not completely twisted out of their meaning - I do understand how shocking and hurtful they are, and for that I unequivocally apologise." He claimed some posts had been misrepresented, including one wrongly interpreted as Holocaust denial, which he said was actually mocking such denial.
Background and Campaign for Release
Alaa Abd El-Fattah was a prominent figure during Egypt's 2011 Arab Spring uprising. His most recent detention began in September 2019, and he was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2021 on charges of spreading false news. United Nations investigators labelled his imprisonment a breach of international law.
His release became a cross-party cause in the UK, with both Conservative and Labour governments lobbying for his freedom. He was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September 2025 and flew to the UK last week to reunite with his young son, who lives in Brighton. He had been granted British citizenship in December 2021 under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, reportedly through his UK-born mother.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Scrutiny
The discovery of the social media posts prompted calls from some political figures, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage, for the Home Secretary to examine whether his citizenship could be revoked. In response, Mr Abd El-Fattah stressed he takes allegations of antisemitism "very seriously."
He framed the offending posts as "mostly expressions of a young man's anger and frustrations" during a time of regional crisis and police brutality in Egypt. He added that he had missed his son's birthdays since 2012 due to his activism, which included promoting equality and secular democracy.
It is understood that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is reviewing the processes surrounding his case. A government spokesperson confirmed that securing his release was a "long-standing priority" but reiterated condemnation of the tweets. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had expressed delight at the activist's return, was reportedly unaware of the posts at the time.
