UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – British PM Sir Keir Starmer faces backlash for welcoming Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah back to the UK despite his controversial social media history.
As reported by Helen Corbett of The Independent, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has come under scrutiny for celebrating the release of UK democracy campaigner Alaa Abd El-Fattah from Egyptian custody, amid questions over his past social media activity.
Why are Tory MPs and Jewish groups criticizing Keir Starmer’s praise for Alaa Abd El-Fattah?
Sir Keir Starmer stated on Friday, 6 December, that he was “delighted” that UK-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, freed from prison in September following a presidential pardon, had been reunited with his family in the UK.
The Prime Minister said,
“I’m delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief. I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.”
He added,
“Alaa’s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I’m grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon.”
Cabinet ministers, including Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, shared similar messages, expressing the same support in their posts.
The Jewish Leadership Council, which represents Jewish organisations across the UK, criticised the British government’s “effusive welcome.”
The council also raised concerns following recent antisemitic attacks in Manchester and at Bondi Beach, Australia.
It posted on X,
“We are appalled by the effusive welcome Alaa Abd El-Fattah has received from the UK government. The Prime Minister recently reiterated his determination to root out antisemitism from our country but has now shared his delight that someone who has advocated for killing Zionists has arrived in the UK.”
The Jewish council added,
“We know from Heaton Park, Manchester and Bondi Beach that there are those who hear such words as a call to action. The Government has celebrated Mr Abd El-Fattah’s arrival as a victory, British Jews will see it as yet another reminder of the danger we face.”
The Prime Minister very publicly endorsed and welcomed to the UK a man with disgusting, extremist views.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) December 27, 2025
Does he really support him? Or was he just ignorant?
My letter to @Keir_Starmer👇 pic.twitter.com/Iefk4VxmZc
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick posted on X that Sir Keir Starmer’s “endorsement” of Alaa Abd El-Fattah showed poor judgment, citing the activist’s previous social media posts that appear to express “extremist” views.
He described the Prime Minister’s remarks as a “personal, public endorsement.”
Mr Jenrcik added,
“Given Mr Abd El-Fattah’s record of extremist statements about violence, Jews and the police, it was a serious error of judgment.”
He cited online posts dating back to 2010 that appeared to come from Mr Abd El-Fattah, though the Press Association was unable to confirm their authenticity.
Mr Jenrick wrote to the Prime Minister asking for clarification on whether he was aware of Mr Abd El-Fattah’s statements before saying he was “delighted” at his release.
He said,
“Do you condemn them without qualification, including the endorsement of killing Israelis and ‘zionists’ and the calls to kill police and burn Downing Street?”
The shadow justice secretary called on the Labour leader to “correct the record” and retract his “unalloyed endorsement.”
He added,
“Nobody should be imprisoned arbitrarily, nor for peaceful dissent. But neither should the Prime Minister place the authority of his office behind someone whose own words cross into the language of racism and bloodshed.”
Which online posts sparked criticism of Alaa Abd El-Fattah?
Several of Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s posts appear to promote violence against “Zionists” and the police. In 2014, these tweets led to the loss of his Sakharov Prize nomination from the European Parliament.
His 2019 arrest and subsequent 2021 five-year prison sentence were triggered by a Facebook share of a post detailing the death of a prisoner under alleged torture in Tora prison.
In 2017, he faced charges of “insulting the judiciary” through various online and media appearances.
Does Alaa Abd El-Fattah hold dual citizenship?
Alaa Abd El-Fattah is a dual citizen of Egypt and the United Kingdom. His first citizenship is Egyptian. He was born in Egypt in 1981 and has been a prominent activist there since the 2011 Arab Spring.
He holds British citizenship as well. He acquired a British passport through his UK-born mother, a right he exercised while imprisoned in 2022. He was freed in 2025 and subsequently moved to Britain.