A UK citizen, previously detained in Egypt, has issued a formal apology for past social media posts advocating violence against Zionists. Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who spent six years in Egyptian detention for spreading false information about the government, was welcomed to the UK by Keir Starmer amidst controversy over his old online statements. British-Egyptian dual national El-Fattah, a prominent figure in the Arab Spring uprisings, faced calls from Tory shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp to have his citizenship revoked due to tweets from 2010 glorifying the killing of Zionists.
El-Fattah expressed regret for his inflammatory posts, acknowledging their hurtful nature and attributing them to youthful anger during times of regional turmoil. He admitted to engaging in online spats without considering the impact of his words on others and issued a clear apology for the offensive content. Despite facing criticism, El-Fattah emphasized his commitment to LGBTQ rights and opposition to sectarianism and racism, refuting accusations of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.
The British government, which had long advocated for El-Fattah’s release, condemned his historic tweets as abhorrent while affirming his British citizenship status. The Prime Minister, unaware of the controversy at the time, welcomed El-Fattah’s return, prompting concerns from Jewish organizations regarding the impact of his past statements. Amidst calls for accountability and reassurance for Jewish communities, concerns were raised about the potential consequences of such rhetoric on public safety.
El-Fattah, who became a UK citizen in December 2021, expressed gratitude for the support he received, acknowledging the complexities of his situation and the challenges faced by those who stood by him during his incarceration. Despite the backlash, he recognized the importance of advocating for human rights and standing up against injustice, expressing appreciation for those who continued to support him.