Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced criticism for his public support of Egyptian activist Abdel Fattah following the latter's return to the United Kingdom. Critics, including Conservative politician Robert Jenrick and the Jewish Leadership Council, pointed to Abdel Fattah's past online messages, some of which endorsed violence and were described as racist. The government stated it was unaware of these messages until recently and condemned them as abhorrent, but maintained that efforts to secure his release were based on concerns over arbitrary detention and unfair trials. Abdel Fattah, a prominent figure during the 2011 Egyptian uprising, was released after a lengthy campaign and has since reunited with his family in the United Kingdom.