Starmer criticised for welcoming return of Egyptian activist

[ad_1] Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for welcoming the arrival of Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to the UK - after historic social media messages emerged displaying the campaigner apparently calling for Zionists to be killed.

The twin British nationwide left Egypt this week after being free of jail. He was convicted in 2021 of "spreading pretend information" after sharing a Fb put up about torture within the nation.

The prime minister mentioned he was "delighted" to listen to the activist had landed within the UK to be reunited with household.

However shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick mentioned Sir Keir's remarks have been a "severe error of judgement".

Jenrick highlighted Abdel Fattah's messages that endorsed the killing of Zionists and police, and added the prime minister's message amounted to a "private, public endorsement" of the activist.

"No one must be imprisoned arbitrarily, nor for peaceable dissent. However neither ought to the prime minister place the authority of his workplace behind somebody whose personal phrases cross into the language of racism and bloodshed," he mentioned in a letter.

Cupboard ministers, together with Overseas Secretary Yvette Cooper and Justice Secretary David Lammy, additionally printed comparable posts of help after Abdel Fattah's return.

The Jewish Management Council, a charity representing Jewish organisations throughout the UK, criticised what it described as an "effusive welcome" from the UK authorities.

The BBC understands the activist's messages had not been delivered to consideration of the prime minister till they have been highlighted in current days - and the federal government considers them to be abhorrent.

Abdel Fattah's launch in September adopted a protracted marketing campaign by his household - backed by celebrities similar to actresses Dame Judi Dench and Olivia Colman - and lobbying by the British authorities.

He had spent greater than a decade of his life behind bars, together with being handed a five-year sentence in December 2021 following a trial that human rights teams mentioned was grossly unfair.

The earlier Conservative administration had also lobbied for the activist to be freed and a authorities spokesman mentioned: "He's a British citizen. It has been a long-standing precedence underneath successive governments to work for his launch from detention, and to see him reunited along with his household within the UK."

A Labour supply additionally accused Jenrick of attempting to rewrite historical past for his personal political benefit.

A author, mental and software program developer, Abdel Fattah rose to prominence throughout an rebellion in 2011 that compelled the previous Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, to resign.

In 2014, Abdel Fattah was nominated for a European human rights award, the Sakharov Prize, however this was withdrawn over tweets about Israel he had posted in 2012.

He mentioned his feedback had been a part of a "personal dialog" that befell throughout an Israeli offensive in Gaza and had been been taken out of context.

After being faraway from a journey ban record imposed by Egyptian authorities that saved him within the nation for 3 months after his launch from jail, Abdel Fattah has now reunited along with his 14-year-old son, who lives in Brighton.