Backlash after PM's welcome for activist released in Egypt

A BACKLASH is growing against past social media posts by a democracy activist who returned to the UK after being released from detention in Egypt.

- 

The Prime Minister has faced criticism for celebrating the return of Alaa Abd El-Fattah on Boxing Day after posts emerged from 2010 in which he appears to call for violence towards “Zionists” and the police.

They appear to be from Mr Abd El-Fattah’s X account but could not be verified by the Press Association.

Jewish organisations have criticised the “effusive” response from Sir Keir Starmer’s Government to the Egyptian-British dual national's return and said the years-long campaign to secure his release, which successive Conservative and Labour governments lobbied for, showed a “lack of due diligence”.