Forum Topic

Tories 2025 disavow Tories 2021, including themselves. Prefer to heap blame on Starmer

Totally predictably Alaa Abd el-Fattah has come up on the Forum. So I asked AI:-Who gave UK citizenship to Alaa Abd el-Fattah?"Alaa Abd el-Fattah was granted British citizenship in December 2021 while the Conservative Party was in government under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. His citizenship was processed through his mother, Laila Soueif, a London-born mathematics professor. Key details regarding the grant of his citizenship include: Legal Basis: He acquired citizenship through a 2021 change in immigration law that allows mothers to transmit British citizenship to their children born abroad.Home Secretary: Priti Patel served as the Home Secretary at the time the citizenship was granted.Immigration Minister: Chris Philp was the Immigration Minister when the application was approved.Diplomatic Context: The citizenship was sought by his family as a "get out of jail card" to increase diplomatic pressure on Egypt to release him from prison.Following his arrival in the UK in late 2025, several of the officials who initially supported his case—including Chris Philp and other Conservative MPs—have called for his citizenship to be revoked due to the emergence of past social media posts they labeled as "abhorrent"."Also AI:-"Source of "Islamist" Label: In late December 2025, some British media outlets and political figures (such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and MP Robert Jenrick) used the term "alleged Islamist extremist" to describe him. These labels were primarily based on unearthed historical social media posts from 2010–2012 that contained violent rhetoric against Zionists and the police, rather than an adherence to Islamist ideology."Poor Starmer.

David Ainsworth ● 13d68 Comments

Mr Ainsworth'puerile/ˈpjʊərʌɪl/adjectivechildishly silly and immature'.Thank you for this.The definition might be improved by an extension - "as exemplified by the smug, pretentious and self-regarding postings of David Ainsworth"

John Hawkes ● 9d

"Seeing his péurile response to my post regarding the Jewish settlers in the Ottoman Empire I will no longer waste my time on MrA."puerile/ˈpjʊərʌɪl/adjectivechildishly silly and immature.

David Ainsworth ● 9d

You are correct Steven. Seeing his péurile response to my post regarding the Jewish settlers in the Ottoman Empire I will no longer waste my time on MrA.

Lucille Grant ● 9d

Steven'In my experience, Lucille and John, it is a waste of time engaging with David Ainsworth. He has no interest in anything you say. He continually asks questions but never answers them. All he wishes to do is to  delegitimise the State of Israel and to  justify attempts to destroy it y implying (without ever having the courage to state) that Jewish people should never have been allowed to emigrate to Palestine and certainly have  no right to a homeland. In my opinion it is best to ignore him.I disagree with you here.He should be challenged."By his words shall one know him" to misquote Matthew 7 15-17.Mr Ainsworth's obsessive and repeated posts on Israel and the Jews in my mind show him to be an antisemite.But all antisemites should be fought and not allowed to pollute debate and eventually British society.We should learn the lessons of the initial appeasement to Nazi Germany.I refer you to the most perceptive article from Brenden O'Neill in Spiked online.Re:“I’m the ghost of [Arab] spring past.” Forum HomePosted by: John HawkesDate/Time: 01/01/26 15:35:00

John Hawkes ● 9d

Mr AinsworthAs I have asked you before, what territory represents the Palestinian homeland ?Does it include the state of Israel recognised now with the same legitimacy as the UK ?

John Hawkes ● 9d

Ms Grant'Now you are just being ridiculous. The Turks welcomed Jewish settlers fleeing from persecution elsewhere and Jews had fewer economic restriction than in the European countries they came from. Obviously when the Ottoman Empire declined, everyone suffered as a result, including Jews. Hope that helps.'Nothing will help a person who has an obsessive dislike of Jews which verges, or perhaps is based upon antisemitism.

John Hawkes ● 9d

"implying ... that Jewish people should never have been allowed to emigrate to Palestine and certainly have  no right to a homeland."Jewish people had emigrated to Palestine for many centuries, and some had continuously existed there since the earliest times. But the latest immigrants brought many who believed that the Palestinian majority had no right to their own already existing homeland in Palestine and should be "transferred".Do the Palestinians have a right to their homeland? If they don't, why do we?-----------------------------Palestinian Arabs were, unsurprisingly, not supportive. In 1899 the mayor of Jerusalem, Yusuf Diya al-Din Pasha al-Khalidi, told Herzl that it was ‘pure folly’ to attempt to establish a Jewish country in Palestine because it was ‘inhabited by others’.

David Ainsworth ● 9d

In my experience, Lucille and John, it is a waste of time engaging with David Ainsworth. He has no interest in anything you say. He continually asks questions but never answers them. All he wishes to do is to  delegitimise the State of Israel and to  justify attempts to destroy it y implying (without ever having the courage to state) that Jewish people should never have been allowed to emigrate to Palestine and certainly have  no right to a homeland. In my opinion it is best to ignore him.

Steven Rose ● 9d

"The Turks welcomed Jewish settlers fleeing from persecution elsewhere and Jews had fewer economic restriction than in the European countries they came from. Obviously when the Ottoman Empire declined, everyone suffered as a result, including Jews."Is that why the Zionist immigrants changed from the declining side of their Ottoman benefactors to the Allied side?

David Ainsworth ● 9d

Now you are just being ridiculous. The Turks welcomed Jewish settlers fleeing from persecution elsewhere and Jews had fewer economic restriction than in the European countries they came from. Obviously when the Ottoman Empire declined, everyone suffered as a result, including Jews. Hope that helps.

Lucille Grant ● 10d

Strange how quickly the Zionist settlers turned against the Ottoman Empire.

David Ainsworth ● 10d

The land before WW1 was still part of the Ottoman Empire, as surely you know Mr Ainsworth.

Lucille Grant ● 10d

Mr Ainsworth'Not that much of a surprise, is it? It might be a bit more useful if Israel worked to get a similar majority of the world's 2 billion Muslims on side.'What should it do to achieve that goal ? Might not Muslims in the Middle East help themselves achieve this goal by not carrying out genocidal attacks and pogroms on Jews; negotiating neighbourly sharing of territory and removing threats to annihilate the state of Israel and Jews in general from their credo ?And perhaps ultimately telling Western faux progressives like you, suffering a white guilt complex that has morphed into antisemitism, to butt out from this issue in which they have no justifiable interest. My guess is that the vast majority of the 2 billion Muslims that do not live in the Middle East could no more care a toss about their fellow religionists in that region than most of us and shake their heads over how much this group do  harm to rather than progress their own cause.

John Hawkes ● 10d

Mr Ainsworth'any Palestinian who wants to reclaim his own country'.What precisely is the country of Palestine and who governs it ?And what are its borders ?

John Hawkes ● 10d

So you claim that any Palestinian who wants to reclaim his own country is an "Islamist", and is doing this for no other reason. Then if Britain was invaded and occupied by people from another country or countries, a Briton would have no right to struggle to reclaim his country and would be a racist if he/she tried. Did the Allies have a right to foment resistance and violence in German-Occupied France and to invade in 1944. Were the French Resistance terrorists? Kievan Rus (9th-13th centuries): A powerful East Slavic state centered in Kyiv, considered a common ancestor by both Russia and Ukraine, but it fragmented before being conquered by Mongols. So can Russia make an attempt to return to the land of her ancestors now, and expect the Ukrainians to kowtow?

David Ainsworth ● 10d

And who permitted this development in 1909 and 1910?

David Ainsworth ● 11d

"Only about a half of world Jewry lives in Israel but around 90% of Jews in the diaspora are Zionist insofar as  they support the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish state."Not that much of a surprise, is it? It might be a bit more useful if Israel worked to get a similar majority of the world's 2 billion Muslims on side.------------------------"Around 20% of the citizens of Israel are Arabs, some of them Christian but mostly Muslim."Israel's 2018 Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People, which defines Israel as the Jewish people's historic homeland and nation-state, granting unique self-determination rights to Jews, prioritizing Hebrew over Arabic, and promoting Jewish settlement as a national value, while critics call it discriminatory and supporters see it as affirming national identity.

David Ainsworth ● 11d

Pretty much in many places. Tel Aviv, for example,  was built on sand dunes north of Jaffa by 66 Jewish families in 1909. Kibbutzim (a socialist endeavour) were built in the Galilee from that time onwards. The first, Degania Aleph was in 1910.

Lucille Grant ● 11d

I agree with most  of that, Ivonne. But 1) Around 20% of the citizens of Israel are Arabs, some of them Christian but mostly Muslim.2) Judaism is a religion based on ethnicity. You are Jewish if your mother was born Jewish, whether you believe in God or not.3) Hebrew is one of the Semitic family of languages, which also includes Arabic.4) Semitic is a linguistic term, though there may be ethnic and cultural affinities between the groups speaking Semitic languages.5) Only about a half of world Jewry lives in Israel but around 90% of Jews in the diaspora are Zionist insofar as  they support the continued existence of Israel as a Jewish state.Happy New Year.

Steven Rose ● 11d

Hello Steven,A question, please, not meant to be a controversial one, just one out of curiosity.  Would you agree that:1. Being Israeli represents a nationality;2. Being Jewish represents a religion/ethnicity;3. Being Hebrew represents an ethnic/linguistic group;4. Being Semitic represents a language family; and5. Being Zionist represents an ideology.Thank you.A very happy New Year to you and everybody on the form.

Ivonne Holliday ● 11d

Empty land, was it?

David Ainsworth ● 11d

Given that you invariably refuse to answer questions, allegedly because you don't have the time (though you seem to have time contribute to numerous threads on the Forum as well as starting many of your own), I am surprised at your persistence in posing a question to which the answer has already been given. But assuming for the sake of courtesy that you really don't understand, I will try once again (without the use of AI). Anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism because in calling for an end to the Jewish State of Israel and a Palestine 'free from the river to the sea', Islamists and their fellow travellers are condemning millions of Jewish citizens of Israel, most of whom are descendants of Jews who fled persecution in Muslim lands, to live as a beleaguered minority in a predominantly Muslim country, if not to endure expulsion or worse. If that is not clear to you, there is nothing more I can say.

Steven Rose ● 11d

Mr AinsworthIt would further my understanding of the issue if you would provide a definition of what you mean by 'anti-Zionism'.

John Hawkes ● 11d

Well, it was not. Doubtless my stupidity. So please explain it simply. Use AI if you can.

David Ainsworth ● 11d

Well, it was not. Doubtless my stupidity. So please explain ot simply. Use AI if you can.

David Ainsworth ● 11d

StevenYet another excellent and balanced analysis not only of the creation of Israel and the current Middle East conflict but also the prejudice of many if not most writers and academics.Including Naomi Klein a professor of 'climate justice' (sic).This group includes the majority of posters on the subject on this Forum, though for them the adjective academic regarding their comments is surely stretching a point.Most impressive is the fact that your comments are obviously based upon the exercise of your own intelligence and not the artificial substitute that the likes of Mr Ainsworth need to deploy.And your quoting the actual barbaric words of Abd El-Fattah attacking both the Jews and the British state, one whose citizenship he is so afraid of being deprived of, gives the lie to the claim he is just an innocent at large regarding his postings and is in fact a fine example of Britishness - albeit he is an Egyptian.Lucy Connolly was jailed for tweets (quickly withdrawn as you point out) posted in anger following the killing of three young girls by Axel Rudakubana, an act most on this Forum would abhor.In court he also admitted producing the biological toxin ricin and a charge under the Terrorism Act related to possessing an al-Qaeda training manual.I would suspect Naomi Klein, other Guardianistas and some on this Forum would plead the Monty Python defence - "he's not an Islamic terrorist; he's just a naughty boy". Why do so many not see the evil in Islamism and its threat to this country and the world at large whilst perpetually pleading on behalf of Islamists ?

John Hawkes ● 11d

I am not sure you really want an answer to your question, but it should be obvious from my previous post why anti-Zionism is a form of anti-Semitism.

Steven Rose ● 11d

"The first is that anti-Zionism is a modern form of anti-Semitism."Then you can explain why that is so.And how it applies to anti-Zionist Jews.(Asking as a non-adult in the chat room)Chat room? Or bear pit.

David Ainsworth ● 11d

In a year of strong contenders, this by the Hawke-Meister General has got to take the award for most idiotic post of the year!

Gerry Boyce ● 11d

An article in today's 'Guardian' by Naomi Klein, professor of 'climate justice' at the University of British Columbia, in which she presents arguments in defence of Abd El-Fattah, demonstrates everything that wrong with the bien pensant left in this country and North America. She describes the calls for Abd El-Fattah's citizenship to be revoked as a 'manufactured storm', pointing out that he has also praised 'brave anti-Zionist Jews' and spoken out against the Egyptian military when they fired on a peaceful protest by Coptic Christians. She writes:'Do these posts cancel out the ones that say the exact opposite'? No. But they do do make it harder to turn Abd El-Fattah into the unrecognisably menacing "anti-white Islamist" figure currently flooding the Internet'.  No doubt this stuff goes down well with hundreds of 'Guardian' readers, eager to have their prejudices against Israel confirmed and to read that the fear of Islamism is a phobia manufactured by the right wing. I should like to make two points. The first is that anti-Zionism is a modern form of anti-Semitism. Israel was created with the assent of the UN in the aftermath of the war as a homeland for Jewish people, probably the most persecuted group in the last two thousand years. Anti-Zionism, which calls for the destruction of the Jewish State, would leave millions of Jews, the majority of whom nowadays are the descendants of people who fled from persecution in North Africa and the Middle East rather then Europe, living as a minority (if they were allowed to live) as a minority in a Muslim state. The advocacy of this outcome by Naomi Klein, a Jewish academic safely ensconced in British Columbia, can exactly be described as a 'luxury belief'. Secondly it is worth remembering what Abd El-Fattah actually wrote. He described the killing of Zionists as 'heroic' and said that 'we need to kill more of them'. He said the police 'don't have rights, we should just kill them all'. He described vBritish people as 'dogs and monkeys'. He  called for  Downing Street to be burned down etc. etc. Now those calling for Abd El-Fattah's citizenship to be revoked are not saying that he is the most evil man on the planet. No doubt at times he has expressed more acceptable political views, such as the defence of Coptic Christians. But these, as Naomi Klein herself admits, do not cancel out the hate speech repeated over hundred of tweets. In 2024 Lucy Connolly was given a 31 month prison sentence for a tweet in which she advocated burning down asylum hotels. What is the difference between Abd El-Fattah and Lucy Connolly? Would the 'Guardian' have printed an article in defence of Lucy Connolly, pointing out she was not a bad person and that she took down the offensive post a couple of hours later and apologised?

Steven Rose ● 11d

Mr Ainsworth'With no parliamentary oversight or public scrutiny, it remains unclear how much British intelligence gathered from these flights has been shared with Israel."'All of it I hope.Israel is our ally and in return I am sure shares much intelligence with the British Government regarding Islamist activists in the UK and their potential for doing more harm and deaths to British citizens than they have done already in the last couple of decades.Pity you are not more concerned with the fate of your fellow citizens than you are with that of Palestinians.BTW do you have joint British Palestinian citizenship ?

John Hawkes ● 11d

Ms Grant'i won't bore you with all the Hansard records but I can assure you this man's release from Egypt took precedence, all the while a young British/Israeli girl, Emily Damari, was kidnapped and held hostage in tunnels by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 471 days, experiencing the loss of her fingers, starvation, brutality and sexual violence'."Yeah but, no but..." as Little Britain's Vicky Pollard might have said.To the anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish cabal on this Forum lead by Mr Ainsworth, all the acts you described that Palestinians carried out were justifiable in the name of 'liberation and freedom fighting against oppression'.Anyway they happened a long time ago.....!

John Hawkes ● 11d

Mr Ainsworth'Meanwhile, the SILENCE over the continuing GENOCIDE in Gaza, supported and enabled by the UK establishment, is deafening and utterly shameful"'I think you may have hit on a solution to the problem.Abd El-Fattah should leave the UK and go to Gaza to defend his people and physically attack Jews rather than just sloganize his hatred of them.I am sure you would 'Go fund me' his travel expenses.

John Hawkes ● 11d

Mr Ainsworth'So how many people has Alaa Abd el-Fattah killed then, Mr R?'You, with your mind befogged by Islamophilia and Israelophobia (or worse) have yet again missed the point.It's not a matter of how many he has personally killed but how many have been killed by fellow Islamists with his encouragement.You just don't get it do you.

John Hawkes ● 11d

Ms Hammond'We can debate his nationality all day but the bottom line is that he currently has dual nationality whether we like it (Philippa) or not (most sensible people).'I find the concept of dual nationality a strange one.Alaa Abd El-Fattah was born in Egypt.Does that not make him an Egyptian and hence make him liable  to be deported back there if he offends ?How can he be both British and Egyptian or anyone else have two nationalities ?Can I add French to my list of nationalities for the food and wine or North Macedonian for its income tax rate ?!And are his comments not offences under the 2010 Equality Act regarding discrimination on the grounds of race or religious beliefs ?British people have been charged over hate texts.Why was he not ?Not much chance of his British nationality being invoked as all the Labour Front bench seem to think him a saint and a martyr (or whatever passes for such in Islam).

John Hawkes ● 11d

You're welcome Ivonne. Happy New Year!While spreading the blame over this man's citizenship and welcome to the UK last week, it beggars belief that no Home Secretary knew about him. He is a prominent political dissident so MI5 and /or MI6 must have known about his online history. It seems  that the PR and lobbying by his family over ruled any sensible decision by the Home Office or indeed successive governments. We now appear to be stuck with him.

Lucille Grant ● 11d

Thank you so much for your reply, Lucille.  I greatly appreciate it!I must admit that I was not aware - or had not followed the case properly - of Alaa Abd el-Fattah until the last few days. It is all so opaque! As you may have gathered, I do not follow Hansard much, if at all.......As for Emily Damari (and other hostages), it is all so blood curdling!

Ivonne Holliday ● 12d

"Over 500 missions in 15 monthsAOAV’s analysis of flight-tracking data shows that between 3 December 2023 and 27 March 2025, the RAF carried out at least 518 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flights over or close to Gaza’s airspace.Both Labour and Conservative governments have enacted the policy, with at least 215 flights taking place during Keir Starmer’s tenure as prime minister and 303 under Rishi Sunak’s administration.The frequency of flights remained high throughout 2024, with some months seeing as many as 49 sorties. The missions have typically lasted up to six hours, with the longest flight recorded at seven hours and four minutes.While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) claims these flights are solely for locating Israeli hostages held by Hamas, AOAV found that the RAF conducted 24 flights in the two weeks leading up to and including the day of Israel’s deadly attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp on 8 June 2024, which reportedly killed 274 Palestinians and injured over 700. Four Israeli hostages were rescued in the operation; it remains unclear whether British intelligence directly contributed to the attack or was solely used to locate hostages.In another case, an RAF Shadow R1 most likely landed at Israel’s Nevatim Air Base on 13 February 2024 and remained there for two hours before departing. Nevatim is a key Israeli military base and hosts the country’s F-35 squadron, which has carried out extensive airstrikes in Gaza.This is not the only instance where UK ISR flights have coincided with major Israeli military assaults. In the two weeks leading up to Israel’s attack on Rafah on 12 February 2024, which killed at least 67 Palestinians, the RAF flew 15 ISR missions over Gaza. Flights continued even during the so-called ‘limited ceasefire’ in early 2025, with six flights recorded in February alone.With no parliamentary oversight or public scrutiny, it remains unclear how much British intelligence gathered from these flights has been shared with Israel."

David Ainsworth ● 12d

"Indirectly". Shock, horror, outrage - Twitter poster "Indirectly" "probably" kills "a fair number" "no doubt".--------------------------Tom London on Twitter yesterday:-"X and the mainstream media are full of anger at historical tweets by El-FattahMeanwhile, the SILENCE over the continuing GENOCIDE in Gaza, supported and enabled by the UK establishment, is deafening and utterly shameful"

David Ainsworth ● 12d

Ivonne, Hansard has a good record of the lobbying on his behalf that took place in Parliament. Not once, in any debate, were questions raised about his obnoxious and disgraceful online comments. One has to ask the question of both the Tories and Labour, why this were never discussed while the lobbying for his release carried on regardless. Did the Home Office ignore any warnings from MI5? If so, why were warnings not adhered to? A number of Home Secretaries, during both Conservative and Labour administrations, seem to have been oblivious to this man prior to giving him British citizenship because his mother was born here. 'Ala’a Abd el-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist and writer, has been a frequent subject of debate in the UK Parliament, with his case documented extensively in Hansard (the official record of parliamentary proceedings). His long-term imprisonment in Egypt, following the 2011 uprising, has led to sustained diplomatic and parliamentary pressure for his release.'i won't bore you with all the Hansard records but I can assure you this man's release from Egypt took precedence, all the while a young British/Israeli girl, Emily Damari, was kidnapped and held hostage in tunnels by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 471 days, experiencing the loss of her fingers, starvation, brutality and sexual violence.

Lucille Grant ● 12d

Indirectly, Mr A. probably a fair number, judging by his hate filled posts which have no doubt rallied many sympathisers.

Lucille Grant ● 12d

So how many people has Alaa Abd el-Fattah killed then, Mr R?

David Ainsworth ● 12d

The whole issue is a complete mess!In the early 2010s, in his late 20s or early 30s, Alaa Abdel Fattah was posting on X truly horrifying and unacceptable messages.  Fast forward to today and there are so many questions unanswered!  I Googled his name and found these articles from 2022:Alaa Abdel Fattah detention: Truss to seek release of British-Egyptian activisthttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-61879386Alaa Abd El-Fattah: Liz Truss vows to help free British-Egyptian activist on hunger strike for 81 dayshttps://news.sky.com/story/alaa-abd-el-fattah-liz-truss-vows-to-help-free-british-egyptian-activist-on-hunger-strike-for-81-days-12637952Will any politician ever assume responsibility for their actions, regardless of affiliation?

Ivonne Holliday ● 12d

@Steven 14.48Of course his ‘apology’ is insincere, he’s only made it to try and deflect all the demands for his deportation.  His hate-filled anti-Semitic tweets have been made as far back as 2010 so he’s had 15 years to repent and apologise for them, but nothing….until now.  We can debate his nationality all day but the bottom line is that he currently has dual nationality whether we like it (Philippa) or not (most sensible people).  His British citizenship must be revoked, by an act of Parliament if necessary, and this despicable *scumbag deported asap. *spot on Chris Philp

Sue Hammond ● 12d

Of course he blames the Zionists aka Jews. Hansard makes very interesting reading for those who are interested in the lobbying of Parliament to get him released.

Lucille Grant ● 12d

Mr Ixer'I see an investigation has now been launched to see why this has only just come to light …'The answer is clear enough.We no longer recognise societal traits and norms, history and culture that define our country and should be adhered to by people who wish to be citizens of it.We have no unique and defining identity and are just a ragbag of disparate racial tribes many of whom have little in common with the majority indigenous population.Hence the examples of Pakistani behaviour and beliefs that are alien to ours.

John Hawkes ● 12d

Ms Bond'There was a time when you could move freely from one country to another in the Middle East and people of different religions lived next to each other peaceably. Unfortunately there are those now that just don't want to - and those problems did NOT suddenly start on 7 October 2023.'What caused this situation to change ?

John Hawkes ● 12d

Ms Bond'So exactly what incident or incidents CAUSED him to make those comments so long ago?'Why should an adult need to be provoked into making vile antisemitic and anti British comments ?Do we not have free will, the power of reason and inherent beliefs ?What provokes you to believe and post what you believe ? 

John Hawkes ● 12d

Mr AinsworthTypical of you in trying to deflect from the issue of immigration being raised by Farage particularly and others, by reference to what he is claimed to have said in the school playground some 50 years ago.Quoted as a diversionary tactic by the Guardian journalists who believe, I assume like you, in an open border immigration policy and also managed to unearth a teacher of Farage who can recall with precise clarity how he behaved all those many years ago.You obviously believe that such comments made as a child were those of a young Nazi and that the adult Farage is still one.Does such a theory of human growth account for your  attitudes towards Jews as can be read in your comments ?Were you antisemitic as a child ?A young Nazi even ?And as such do you and Farage not have much in common ?

John Hawkes ● 12d

There was a time when you could move freely from one country to another in the Middle East and people of different religions lived next to each other peaceably. Unfortunately there are those now that just don't want to - and those problems did NOT suddenly start on 7 October 2023.

Philippa Bond ● 12d

Mr Ixer'Lucille, I  don't agree with any of his comments and I worded my post purposely to say "his mother" told him as I doubt it's a sincere one. However, on balance, I also doubt he'd do anything now that would risk him being sent back to Egypt, which I understand is his other nationality. As far as I'm aware he's not been involved in terrorist activities, he's used "free speech" to express views most of us disagree with.Interesting, that the US tech CEOs and current government would support his right to express these views given the visa ban introduced against five UK/EU citizens trying to curtail hate speech, etc..'In reality do you not actually post such comments to show how clever you are and how much more sophisticated you are than the rest of us regarding such matters ?We who can see and fear the evil that comments espoused by such people as Abd El-Fattah can arouse whilst you obviously do not.How far do you carry your claimed belief in free speech ?Further than the visa ban introduced against five UK/EU citizens trying to curtail hate speech ?But hate speech to you and them only seems to apply to derogatory comments against Muslims and not Jews.But of course the real villains of the peace in your eyes are the US President, Government and CEOs of tech companies.So it is actually anti-Americanism that motivates your beliefs and comments.

John Hawkes ● 12d

Mr IxerDon't be so naïve in your attempt to show yourself to be fair minded and liberal.'I see he's now apologised for his posts. Perhaps his mother and a word him about his comments?'Of course he has.These Islamists are cunning so-and-sos.They will say anything and recant all their previous racist comments and views to make themselves appear as decent human beings deserving of British citizenship, when such a benefit is challenged.Otherwise they would have to return to and live in their 'failed state' birthplaces.His mother was born here as I believe her mother was studying here at the time of her birth.That's how I understand she can claim to be British.But he was born in EGYPT and bases his claim for retained British citizenship as his mother's middle aged son (sic). Boris Johnson was influential in his gaining British citizenship when at the time Abd El-Fattah was perceived to be 'a fighter for and defender of human rights'.One act of Johnson truly worthy of outright condemnation.'I suppose a few years in an Egyptian prison would make one appreciate life in the UK'.Are you insulting Muslim states by insinuating they operate a cruel and wicked prison regime and also comparing life in such states as socially and politically inferior to that in the UK ?Mr Ainsworth will soon be on your tail for Islamophobia !'so I doubt he's a risk to the UK '.The ultimate naivety.Like all terrorists when about to suffer for their obnoxious views, he has of course recanted his racist and anti-British views and put them down to youthful ignorance and indiscretion.People should Google to read how disgusting they are.'He has repeatedly referred to the British as “dogs and monkeys”, for example, and urged Londoners to burn Downing Street. He has “joked” about taking over towns and “rap[ing] ur women” — just the sort of thing British social cohesion needs amid the backlash over migrant hotels and grooming gangs. And he’s called for killing all police, “hating white people”, and the “random shooting of white males”'. - From Unherd.But under pressure and at risk of being kicked out of the country he so despises and with which he holds no views in common, and returned to his homeland that saw him for what he is years ago, he now claims to be a different person.But you, Starmer, Cooper and Lammy are mugs to believe such.If allowed to stay here he will just be a focus for antisemitic views and a terrorism risk to the security and safety of the British people.'... and who other than an the lawyers will gain?'We will if he is kicked out and the lawyers will soon find other similar 'human rights' cases stemming from our misreading of and adherence to the ECHR and Labour's insouciance regarding who can live in this country and claim citizenship.

John Hawkes ● 12d

It appears that Mr El Fattah himself blames the ‘Zionists’ for outing him as a racist and an anti-Semite, suggesting that his views have not changed since his original media posts and that his recent apology is insincere.

Steven Rose ● 12d

Hear, hear Steven.

Lucille Grant ● 12d

Jonathan, had his father been a British citizen he would have been British from birth. I think it was in 2010 that this sexist anomaly was resolved (I believe by the Conservatives with the agreement of Labour) and he became eligible to become a UK citizen. I guess one could argue that fixing this anomaly means people becoming UK citizens as a result should be treated as though they were citizens from when they were born - but that's probably one for the lawyers.I see an investigation has now been launched to see why this has only just come to light …

Michael Ixer ● 12d

I think, Phillips, you should spend some time in Syria with Islamic State where your understanding of extreme forms of Islamism would be much appreciated.

Steven Rose ● 12d

So exactly what incident or incidents CAUSED him to make those comments so long ago?  I think we should be told that too.You are far too quick to condemn.  There is far too much Islamophobia going on in the UK.  We are a country where we are free to choose whatever religion we want to practise or none at all and the majority do that PEACEFULLY.

Philippa Bond ● 12d

Exactly this Jonathan. Surely MI5 would have known of him? Did they inform successive Home Secretaries who ignored their advice?

Lucille Grant ● 12d

I guess the answer to your last question, Jonathan, is that Reform benefits, given that the individual was granted citizenship under the Tories while Labour secured his release, though we will probably never discover who released the information. The whole case demonstrates dreadful incompetence by both the Home Office and the Foreign Office.

Steven Rose ● 13d

Lucille, I  don't agree with any of his comments and I worded my post purposely to say "his mother" told him as I doubt it's a sincere one. However, on balance, I also doubt he'd do anything now that would risk him being sent back to Egypt, which I understand is his other nationality. As far as I'm aware he's not been involved in terrorist activities, he's used "free speech" to express views most of us disagree with.Interesting, that the US tech CEOs and current government would support his right to express these views given the visa ban introduced against five UK/EU citizens trying to curtail hate speech, etc.

Michael Ixer ● 13d

As you say, who benefited? Pretty obvious that the Tories and Reform benefit, and that the Tories can also pretend that it was nothing to do with them in government. But we have seen before this hunt through old emails to find emails that are damaging or ones that can be interpreted that way. Beats me, there's some powerful searching going on there. And apparently people can never change their opinions, or are allowed to. Once a Nazi, always a Nazi?Oh, I forgot, if you are Reform Leader Nigel Farage, it was just playground banter:-"In an interview last month, when asked if he ever racially abused fellow pupils, Farage replied, "not with intent".He added: "Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground that you could interpret in the modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes."Mr Ettedgui acknowledged that a lot of racially offensive terms were commonplace to hear in the 70s, "but I think Nigel Farage was of a completely different order. The regularity, the intention with which he did this to so many pupils of different races." (ITV)So it is, in Farage's case, all down to others' ill-intentioned interpretations. But somehow Tories and Reform just know that Alaa Abd el-Fattah meant it all then, and that he believes exactly the same now, after his years in gaol. So, a double-hit.

David Ainsworth ● 13d

I hope by your claims you are not pointing to some sort of Israeli plot. To me this sums up the shambles that our immigration policy is in.  Anybody who tweets these sorts of remarks should not be allowed in the UK no matter how many years ago.Starmer has now completely shown himself as a fool.  His first role is to keep his electorate safe and this individual’s comments clearly indicate an ideology.

Robert Wheeler ● 13d

I have a few questions about this case:- why did the government not know about this man’s beliefs before a) demanding his release and b) granting him citizenship?- did someone know but hushed it up or is this just incompetence?- as the son of a British citizen isn’t citizenship conferred automatically at birth whether the individual is born in the UK or not?- who dug out these ancient tweets in the first place and then timed their release for just after he returned here?- in other words, cui bono? Who benefited?- if the aim was to politically embarrass Labour and the Tories was it someone in Reform?  Or a Reform-supporting paper?I think we should be told!

Jonathan Callaway ● 13d

Have you read any of his tweets Mr Ixer? He hates white people, police, homosexuals, Brits (he calls us dogs) and Jews. His mother was on hunger strike while he was in an Egyptian jail and petitioned both Tory and Labour Governments to persuade Egypt to release him. His 'apology' today is a pile of dog xhxt.So glad YOU don't think he is a risk to the UK. We can all sleep safe in our beds now.

Lucille Grant ● 13d

I see he's now apologised for his posts. Perhaps his mother and a word him about his comments? I suppose a few years in an Egyptian prison would make one appreciate life in the UK, so I doubt he's a risk to the UK ... and who other than an the lawyers will gain?

Michael Ixer ● 13d

😂😂😂 Sue!

Lucille Grant ● 13d

Mr Ainsworth'So I asked AI:-Who gave UK citizenship to Alaa Abd el-Fattah?'Your artificial intelligence has done you proud, though this issue has featured in the MSM for at least 24 hours.The then Conservative governments are as much at fault for the leniency they showed this 'freedom fighter', as he was then claimed to be, as has been Labour.'He acquired citizenship through a 2021 change in immigration law that allows mothers to transmit British citizenship to their children born abroad.'Children ?He is a middle aged man for God's sake and obviously a nasty piece of work.Yet only Starmer and others on the Labour front bench welcomed him back 'with delight' without (one must assume and hope) checking social media for his comments.These surprise, surprise bearing in mind his background, show him to be not only antisemitic but also anti-British.Yet he wants to live here !Who knows the reason for this ?Might he be plotting terror attacks in the UK ?There is as you know a strong body of opinion that the boat people you doubtless have sympathy for contain within their midst many terrorist 'sleepers' just waiting to commit their vile deeds.Though hopefully not in West Putney - "Heaven forbid" ! In reality only Reform have defined the right way to handle him.A Trumpian solution - 'ship him back to Egypt'.

John Hawkes ● 13d

More c&p AI again.  Are you now unable to form your own thoughts and opinions?

Sue Hammond ● 13d