Overview
- Alaa Abd El Fattah issued an unequivocal apology for 2010–2012 tweets that appeared to endorse violence and used derogatory language, saying they reflected youthful anger.
- Downing Street condemned the historic posts as abhorrent but said welcoming a British citizen unfairly detained abroad was the right course, noting the prime minister was not initially aware of the posts.
- Senior Conservatives and Reform UK demanded revocation of his British citizenship and deportation, but officials indicate current law offers no clear grounds for deprivation.
- The Foreign Office is reviewing how the case was handled and prior vetting, while the Metropolitan Police are assessing whether the posts warrant further investigation.
- Abd El Fattah was pardoned by Egypt's president in September, had a travel ban lifted, arrived in Britain on Boxing Day, and obtained UK citizenship in 2021 through his British-born mother.