No 10 defends campaign to release Abd el-Fattah despite his ‘abhorrent’ tweets

MPs reject calls to strip British-Egyptian activist of UK nationality over social media posts from a decade ago

Downing Street has defended its campaign for the release of a British-Egyptian activist and its decision to welcome him to the UK despite his “abhorrent” tweets a decade ago.

Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who arrived in London on Boxing Day after the British government successfully negotiated his release, said he apologised “unequivocally” for his posts after opposition parties called for him to be deported and his citizenship revoked.