Keir Starmer faces backlash over Egyptian activist’s past
SIR Keir Starmer is facing a backlash as it emerged he did not know about an Egyptian activist’s hate-filled past when he welcomed him to Britain, reports BritPanorama.
The Prime Minister had expressed being “delighted” at the arrival of Egyptian Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent opposition figure recently released from Egyptian imprisonment.
However, historical posts from Abd el-Fattah surfaced online, in which he called for the killing of Jews and police. These posts, dating back 15 years and initially appeared on social media, raised immediate concern among critics.
Sources from Downing Street indicated that these messages had not been brought to Sir Keir’s attention prior to his welcoming statement. They emphasized that welcoming Abd el-Fattah did not equate to an endorsement of his views.
The Government condemned Abd el-Fattah’s posts as “abhorrent,” noting that securing his release from Egypt had been a priority for both Labour and Conservative governments over the years.
In response, the Conservative Party demanded that the former political prisoner be stripped of his British citizenship and deported. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick stated: “If the Prime Minister really was unaware El-Fattah was an extremist, he should immediately retract his comments expressing ‘delight’ at his arrival.”
Jenrick further called for the civil servants who failed to alert ministers regarding Abd el-Fattah’s background to be sacked.
The controversy escalated as Nigel Farage claimed he had alerted counter-terrorism police to allegations against Abd el-Fattah for threatening to kill British citizens and advocating for more suicide bombings.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed concern that the Government’s comments could heighten fears within the Jewish community.
As the political fallout continues, the implications of this incident may resonate well beyond the immediate concerns of accountability and public safety.
