Yvette Cooper has initiated a review concerning “serious information failures” due to overlooked “abhorrent” posts made by recently released activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
The Foreign Secretary disclosed that previous high-ranking politicians and government officials were unaware of social media statements by Mr. El-Fattah that seemed to incite violence against Zionists and law enforcement. El-Fattah entered the UK on Boxing Day after the lifting of a travel ban following his prison release.
Both Yvette Cooper and PM Keir Starmer expressed their approval of his arrival, but faced criticism as tweets from 2010 resurfaced. The Foreign Secretary has called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
In a letter to Dame Emily Thornberry, Ms. Cooper expressed dissatisfaction with the existing procedures and due diligence processes, deeming them “wholly inadequate” in this instance. She emphasized the government’s condemnation of the tweets, for which Mr. El-Fattah has since apologized.
Mr. El-Fattah obtained UK citizenship in December 2021 under the leadership of former PM Boris Johnson, reportedly through his British-born mother. Although the Tories and Reform UK have urged for his citizenship to be revoked, there are currently no plans to do so.
His imprisonment on charges of spreading false news was criticized as a violation of international law by UN investigators. He was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September. Efforts from both Tory and Labour administrations led to his release, and he has now reunited with his son in Brighton.
Mr. El-Fattah expressed remorse for his past comments, acknowledging their hurtful nature. He attributed them to emotional reactions during times of regional turmoil and admitted his regret for engaging in online disputes insensitively.
Government officials defended their handling of the situation, resisting calls for the activist’s deportation. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson affirmed the government’s commitment to upholding religious and political freedoms while condemning the historical tweets as abhorrent.
Authorities believe there are no legal grounds to strip Mr. Abd El-Fattah’s citizenship, citing established case law that reserves such action for cases involving fraud or threats posed by dangerous criminals and terrorists.