image sourced from original article at Sir Keir Starmer is under scrutiny after expressing delight at the return of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist, from detention in Egypt. Abd El-Fattah, freed after a presidential pardon, had been imprisoned for five years on charges of spreading false news, a case condemned by United Nations investigators.
The prime minister, along with senior cabinet members, welcomed Abd El-Fattah's release, but critics, including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and the Jewish Leadership Council, highlighted the activist's past social media posts which allegedly contained extremist views about violence, Jews, and the police.
Jenrick called Starmer's remarks a serious error of judgment, citing historical posts that appeared to advocate violence and led to Abd El-Fattah losing a human rights award nomination in 2014. The Jewish Leadership Council also voiced concern, linking the government's welcome to wider fears about antisemitism following recent attacks.
A Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated that securing Abd El-Fattah's release had been a priority for successive governments, emphasizing his status as a British citizen.
