No UK plan to remove dissident’s citizenship

DOWNING Street has defended Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s entry into the UK, insisting the Government would welcome the return of any citizen “unfairly detained abroad”.

- 

The activist, who was released after years of detention in Egypt, previously wrote tweets which appeared to show him calling for violence against Zionists and the police.

The Conservatives and Reform UK have both suggested he should have his British citizenship stripped for the posts, though it is understood there are no current plans for this and law does not appear to provide grounds to deport him.

He was granted UK citizenship in December 2021 under former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson, reportedly through his UK-born mother.

Mr Abd El-Fattah has now apologised for the social media posts, saying he understood “how shocking and hurtful” his previous comments were.