Key Takeaways:
- The UK government’s decision to campaign for the release of British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been questioned after his past violent and offensive social media posts came to light.
- Abd el-Fattah’s historical remarks, which appeared to call for violence towards "Zionists" and the police, have prompted a widespread backlash since his return from detention in Egypt.
- The UK Foreign Office has condemned the "abhorrent" remarks, and Jewish organizations have criticized the government’s "effusive" response to Abd el-Fattah’s release.
- Successive UK governments, including Labour and Conservative administrations, have been accused of showing a "lack of due diligence" in their campaign to secure Abd el-Fattah’s release.
- Abd el-Fattah has been granted British citizenship, and his release from detention in Egypt has been a "top priority" for the government.
Introduction to the Controversy
The decision by successive UK governments to campaign for the release and return of British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah has been called into question after past violent and offensive social media posts came to light. The dissident’s historical remarks, in which he appeared to call for violence towards "Zionists" and the police, have prompted a widespread backlash since his return from detention in Egypt on Friday. The UK government’s response to Abd el-Fattah’s release has been criticized, with some accusing them of showing a "lack of due diligence" in their campaign to secure his release.
Government Response and Criticism
Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has faced criticism after initially welcoming Abd el-Fattah back to the UK and saying his release had been a "top priority" for the government, although it is understood that the prime minister was not aware of the online posts at the time. The UK Foreign Office has since condemned the "abhorrent" remarks, stating that they consider them to be "abhorrent." However, Jewish organizations have criticized the government’s "effusive" response, saying that it shows a "lack of due diligence" in their campaign to secure Abd el-Fattah’s release. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has raised concerns over Abd el-Fattah’s remarks, saying that there is an "urgent need" to find out whether he still holds the views expressed online.
Abd el-Fattah’s Past and Release
Abd el-Fattah, a leading voice in Egypt’s 2011 Arab spring uprising, was granted British citizenship in 2021 by Boris Johnson’s Conservative government. His imprisonment in Egypt was labeled a breach of international law by UN investigators, and he was eventually released after being pardoned by the Egyptian president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. Abd el-Fattah’s release from detention in Egypt has been a "top priority" for the UK government, with successive Tory prime ministers calling for his release and reunion with his family. However, the discovery of his past social media posts has prompted a re-evaluation of his character and the government’s response to his release.
Repercussions and Calls for Action
The discovery of Abd el-Fattah’s past social media posts has prompted a backlash from Jewish organizations and some politicians, who are calling for him to be stripped of his dual citizenship and deported. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has written to the prime minister, saying that Abd el-Fattah’s words "cross into the language of racism and bloodshed" and that he should "be made to live in Egypt or frankly anywhere else in the world." Several Tory politicians who lobbied for Abd el-Fattah’s release from prison have said they now regret their participation in the campaign, with Iain Duncan Smith urging the police to investigate his comments. The Jewish Leadership Council has added that they are "appalled" by the "effusive welcome" Abd el-Fattah has received from the UK government, saying that it is "incompatible with British values."
Conclusion and Implications
The controversy surrounding Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release and the UK government’s response has raised questions about the government’s due diligence and commitment to combating antisemitism. The government’s decision to campaign for Abd el-Fattah’s release, despite his past violent and offensive social media posts, has been criticized as a "serious error of judgment." The incident has also highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of individuals who are granted British citizenship and the importance of holding them to British values. As the UK government navigates this controversy, it must balance its commitment to human rights and democracy with its responsibility to protect its citizens and uphold British values.
