PM Starmer faces backlash for welcoming released British-Egyptian activist who made past calls to kill Zionists

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced backlash on Sunday after past social media posts by British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah resurfaced.

El-Fattah recently returned to the United Kingdom after spending nearly 12 years in an Egyptian prison for his outspoken criticism of the Egyptian government during the so-called “Arab Spring.” 

While el-Fattah was released from prison earlier this year, he was still under a travel ban and, therefore, unable to travel to England, where most of his family now lives. After several years of diplomatic efforts by British politicians to secure his release and return to the United Kingdom, Egypt recently granted him permission to travel, and he rejoined his family last week.

Starmer posted a message on social media, saying he was “delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK.” 

“Alaa’s case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office,” said Starmer.

I’m delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief.

I want to pay tribute to Alaa’s family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.

Alaa's case has been a top priority…

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 26, 2025

The post quickly drew reactions from many users on 𝕏, who highlighted el-Fattah’s history of social media posts calling for the killing of Zionists and white British males.

Australian Jewish media personality Avi Yemeni asked, “Why is Keir Starmer celebrating Alaa Abd el-Fattah, whose violent hatred is all over the internet?” followed by images of some of el-Fattah’s antisemitic posts on 𝕏. 

Why is Keir Starmer celebrating Alaa Abd El-Fattah, whose violent hatred is all over the internet?

And why is the BBC whitewashing his record with a puff piece that omits every one of his extremist posts? pic.twitter.com/kbBE0tts8F

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) December 27, 2025

The Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a statement saying that el-Fattah’s social media history is one of “profound concern,” and said they had shared their reservations with the UK government. 

“The cross-party campaign for such a person, and the warm welcome issued by the Government, demonstrate a broken system with an astonishing lack of due diligence by the authorities,” the Board wrote. 

The Jewish Leadership Council said it was “appalled” by the reception el-Fattah received. 

“The Prime Minister recently reiterated his determination to root out antisemitism from our country but has now shared his delight that someone who has advocated for killing Zionists has arrived in the UK,” the council wrote on 𝕏. “The government has celebrated Mr Abd El-Fattah's arrival as a victory, British Jews will see it as yet another reminder of the danger we face.” 

We are appalled by the effusive welcome Alaa Abd El-Fattah has received from the UK government. The Prime Minister recently reiterated his determination to root out antisemitism from our country but has now shared his delight that someone who has advocated for killing Zionists… https://t.co/C378mPGNTY

— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) December 27, 2025

Following the backlash, Starmer’s office released a statement saying it had not been aware of el-Fattah’s social media history before issuing the welcoming message.

However, Egyptian National Security researcher Khaled Hassan, a convert to Judaism, said that sources in the Egyptian government repudiated Starmer’s claim, saying that “British officials were explicitly briefed on the matter” by the Egyptian authorities. 

El-Fattah’s antisemitic comments previously drew attention in 2014, when he was nominated for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Following objections raised by Jewish groups over social media posts in which he advocated killing Zionists, his nomination for the prize was subsequently withdrawn.

Social media users in the UK also expressed outrage over el-Fattah’s past posts in which he expressed racist opinions toward white British people.

In 2011, he wrote, “I’m telling [you] that I hate white people.” 

He also suggested the “random shooting of white males” as a way to convince white people that “racism costs lives.” In a separate post in 2010, el-Fattah referred to British people as “dogs and monkeys.”

El-Fattah was granted British citizenship in 2021 following petitions by his mother, who was already a British citizen.