A British national, who was brought to the UK following unlawful detention in Egypt, has issued a full apology for past tweets that seemed to endorse violence against Zionists.
Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who was detained for six years on charges related to spreading false information about the Egyptian regime, has been welcomed in the UK by Keir Starmer despite the emergence of controversial posts dating back to 2010. The British government has condemned the views expressed in the tweets as “abhorrent.”
Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow Home Secretary, criticized Mr. El-Fattah, calling him a “despicable scumbag” and demanding the revocation of his citizenship. In tweets from 2010, the British-Egyptian dual citizen, known for his involvement in the Arab Spring protests and hunger strikes, praised the killing of Zionists as heroic and advocated for more violence against them.
In response to the backlash, Mr. El-Fattah expressed regret for his past remarks, acknowledging their hurtful nature and apologizing unequivocally. He attributed the tweets to his youthful anger and frustrations during regional crises, emphasizing that they were often part of online disputes without consideration for their impact on others.
Despite a prolonged campaign for his release by both Tory and Labour administrations, Mr. El-Fattah’s imprisonment was deemed a violation of international law by UN investigators. He was eventually pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September, allowing him to travel to the UK on Boxing Day after a travel ban was lifted.
Addressing accusations of antisemitism, Mr. El-Fattah stated that some of his tweets had been misinterpreted, clarifying that his intentions were often misconstrued, especially regarding sensitive topics like LGBTQ rights and Holocaust denial. He affirmed his commitment to combating sectarianism and racism and advocating for the rights of religious minorities in Egypt.
While some UK officials expressed disgust at Mr. El-Fattah’s past statements, others highlighted the importance of supporting human rights causes and unjustly imprisoned individuals. The British government reaffirmed its commitment to securing Mr. El-Fattah’s release and his reunion with his family in the UK, while also denouncing his historic tweets as unacceptable.
Despite the controversy surrounding his past social media activity, Mr. El-Fattah expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support he has received from various quarters in the UK. He acknowledged the pain felt by some supporters who now regret backing his cause but emphasized the importance of standing up for human rights and offering solidarity to those in need.