British-Egyptian dissident apologises for tweets as Tories push for UK deportation

British-Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah has issued an "unequivocal" apology for a series of historic social media posts that resurfaced following his arrival in the UK on Boxing Day.

The 44-year-old, who was released from an Egyptian prison in September 2025 after a years-long campaign, faced immediate pressure as critics called for his British citizenship to be revoked. The controversy stems from tweets dating back to 2010–2012 in which he appeared to endorse violence against Zionists, police, and white people.

The Apology and Clarification

In a statement issued on Monday, 29 December 2025, Abd El-Fattah expressed that he was "shaken" by the republication of his posts just as he was being reunited with his family for the first time in over a decade.

• Violent Rhetoric: He acknowledged that his past tweets were "shocking and hurtful," attributing them to a "young man's anger and frustrations" during regional crises such as the wars in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza, and rising police brutality in Egypt.

   

• Antisemitism Denied: He stated that he takes allegations of antisemitism "very seriously" and claimed some posts were "twisted out of their meaning" or "misunderstood in bad faith." He specifically noted that one tweet regarding Holocaust denial was actually intended to mock deniers.

   

• Support for Minorities: He asked to be judged by his "real-life record" of defending religious minorities, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech in Egypt.

   

Political Backlash and Revocation Calls ⚖️

The fallout has caused significant political friction in Westminster. While successive governments (both Conservative and Labour) lobbied for his release, many senior figures now say they were unaware of his social media history.

• Conservatives & Reform UK: Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the activist a "scumbag" and stated that if he were in office, he would sign an order to revoke his citizenship on the grounds that his presence is "not conducive to the public good." Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch have similarly called for his deportation, with Farage reportedly reporting him to counter-terrorism police.

   
   

• The Government's Stance: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer originally said he was "delighted" by Abd El-Fattah's arrival, but Downing Street later clarified that ministers were unaware of the tweets at that time. The Foreign Office has since condemned the posts as "abhorrent," but noted that Abd El-Fattah is a British citizen by right through his London-born mother.

   
   

• Legal Challenges: Despite the calls for revocation, legal experts and government sources indicate there is no clear legal basis for removing his citizenship, as he was entitled to it by birth and the law generally prevents leaving individuals stateless.

   

Reaction from the Jewish Community

The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed "profound concern" over the resurfaced rhetoric. Senior Vice President Adrian Cohen warned that extremist language directed at Zionists and white people is "threatening to British Jews and the wider public." The Board criticised the "astonishing lack of due diligence" by authorities who campaigned for his release without reviewing his public record.