Starmer Criticised for Celebrating Activist's Return from Egypt

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under fire for publicly celebrating the return of British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah from Egyptian detention, after historic social media posts surfaced showing Abd El-Fattah calling for violence against Zionists and police. Abd El-Fattah, a dual British-Egyptian national who was imprisoned in Egypt from 2019 to 2025 on false news charges, was pardoned by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September 2025. Starmer tweeted on December 27, 2025, expressing delight at Abd El-Fattah's reunion with family, but faced immediate criticism from Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, who accused him of endorsing extremism. The Foreign Office confirmed it had long sought Abd El-Fattah's release but condemned the posts as "abhorrent." The Jewish Leadership Council also condemned the welcome, citing recent antisemitic attacks in Manchester and Australia.