Rutland MP Alicia Kearns "Betrayed" by Activist’s "Grotesque" Tweets; Withdraws Support for Alaa Abd El-Fattah
Alicia Kearns, the Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, has issued a stinging public withdrawal of support for Alaa Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist whose case has been a focal point of her human rights advocacy for years.
In a statement posted to social media on Saturday, the MP expressed feelings of "betrayal" following the discovery of past comments made by the activist, which she described as "grotesque" and "anti-semitic."
Alicia Kearns, who previously served as the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, has been one of the most vocal champions for Abd El-Fattah’s release from an Egyptian prison. However, her stance shifted abruptly this weekend.
"Those of us who campaigned for Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s protection and release as a British citizen plainly were not aware of his grotesque tweets," Ms. Kearns stated. "I trusted the process to give Alaa citizenship, and then supported the campaign for his release. I feel deeply let down, and frankly betrayed, having lent my support to his cause which I now regret."
The MP clarified that the content of the tweets had not been raised with her until Friday, despite the long-standing international profile of the case.
While Ms. Kearns maintained that it remains "wholly improper" for British citizens to be held without due process by foreign states, she made her continued support contingent on a total renunciation of his previous statements.
She called on Abd El-Fattah to:
Unequivocally apologise for his past remarks.
Wholly reject the "hatred and anti-semitism" expressed.
Acknowledge that such views are incompatible with British values.
Despite the fallout from this case, the MP reaffirmed her commitment to the broader issue of state hostage-taking and arbitrary detention.
Alicia Kearns noted she would continue to advocate for other British citizens currently held abroad, specifically naming:
Jimmy Lai (Hong Kong)
Jagtar Singh Johal (India)
Craig and Lindsay Foreman (Iran)
The "Free Alaa" campaign has yet to issue a formal response to the MP’s statement. Abd El-Fattah, a key figure in the 2011 Egyptian revolution, was granted British citizenship in 2022 while serving a five-year sentence for "spreading false news."
In response to the fallout from Alicia Kearns MP’s statement and similar criticisms from across the political spectrum, Alaa Abd El-Fattah and several major organisations have issued formal responses.
In a lengthy statement released in the early hours of Monday, December 29, 2025, Alaa Abd El-Fattah directly addressed the controversy. He apologised, stating he understood "how shocking and hurtful" his past comments were. He explained the posts were "mostly expressions of a young man’s anger and frustrations" during a time of regional conflict (Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza) and rising police brutality in Egypt. Regret for Tone: He admitted to a "total disregard for how they read to other people" during heated online arguments and conceded, "I should have known better." Misunderstanding: He claimed some of the older tweets had been "completely misunderstood" but acknowledged the offence they caused in their current context.
Reactions from Human Rights & Jewish Organisations
The reaction from advocacy groups has been split between condemning the rhetoric and defending the principle of due process.
Board of Deputies of British Jews, Expressed "profound concern" and stated there is an "urgent need" to determine if Abd El-Fattah still holds these extremist views. They criticised the "lack of due diligence" by the UK government.
Jewish Leadership Council, Stated they were "appalled" by the warm welcome initially given by the Prime Minister, noting the activist had previously advocated for violence against Zionists.
Amnesty International / HRW, While individual responses to the specific tweets are ongoing, these groups historically focused on the legal principle that his 12-year detention in Egypt was a breach of international law, regardless of his personal views.
European Parliament Groups, It was revealed that a group previously backing him for the Sakharov Prize (a top human rights award) had actually withdrawn his nomination as far back as 2014 after discovering a 2012 tweet calling for the murder of Israelis.
The Prime Minister and Foreign Office have since distanced themselves from the activist’s historic comments. A Foreign Office spokesperson officially condemned the tweets as "abhorrent," while maintaining that working for the release of any arbitrarily detained British citizen remains a standing priority.
