Keir Starmer admits he ‘regrets’ welcoming the release of Anglo-Egyptian dissident amid row over ‘anti-Semitic tweets’
Keir Starmer has admitted he “regrets” welcoming the release and return to the UK of a British-Egyptian political activist after it was revealed he was behind a series of anti-Semitic tweets.
The Prime Minister had said that he was “pleased” that Alaa Abdul Fattah was released by the Cairo government before Christmas.
However, a 2010 tweet in which the activist called for violence against Zionists and police later resurfaced.
This has sparked calls for the UK citizenship granted by Boris Johnson in 2021 to be revoked.
Downing Street described the posts as ‘disgusting’ but said the apology issued by Mr El-Fattah was ‘pretty disgusting’.
Speaking to the BBC today, Sir Keir said ‘of course I regret’ his initial response and added that he was ‘not very happy’ because he was not informed of the historic posts and had discussed the matter with the appropriate team.
Asked repeatedly if he wanted to apologize, Sir Keir told the BBC’s show with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: ‘Of course I regret it and I have put it to the appropriate team that someone in the Government should have known, because I think I should have been informed and I was not.
The Prime Minister had said that he was “pleased” that Alaa Abdul Fattah was released by the Cairo government before Christmas.
Downing Street described the posts as ‘disgusting’ but said the apology issued by Mr El-Fattah was ‘pretty disgusting’.
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‘That’s why we’re carrying out a review, but to address the challenge you’re facing, yes this is a failure in the system.
‘This should not have happened and I was less than pleased when I found out, so we are taking corrective action.’
Mr El-Fattah was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 under former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson.
His imprisonment on charges of spreading fake news was described by UN investigators as a violation of international law, and he was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in September after years of lobbying by Conservative and Labor governments.
He flew to England on Boxing Day and was reunited with his son, who lives in Brighton.
Politicians, including the Prime Minister, welcomed his return before tweets dating back to 2010 resurfaced in which the activist called for violence against Zionists and police.
The Conservatives and Reform UK have suggested that he have his British citizenship revoked over these posts, but it appears there are no plans to do so and the law does not provide a basis for deporting him.
