Egyptian denouncement of UK ‘double standards’ after arresting activist for defending embassy, leaving actual terrorists unpunished

CAIRO – 26 August 2025: A state of controversy and discontent prevailed among social media users after British police arrested the young Egyptian man, Ahmed Abdelkader, known as ‘Mido,’ on Monday. A number of human rights activists, political figures, and activists expressed their solidarity with the Egyptian young man against what they called ‘Britain's double standards’.

“Mido”, head of the so-called “Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad,” has been active on his social media platforms recently, especially after the attempted attack by the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group on the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv and Netherlands, saying that he will lead a peaceful initiative in cooperation with Egyptians abroad to protect Egyptian embassies against the terrorist group that is constantly defaming its reputation and achievements especially on the Palestinian cause.

However, Mido was arrested in London on Monday shortly after an apparent commotion with Muslim Brotherhood members. A video shows “Medo,” resisting apprehension, but eventually being immobilized and arrested, all while the Brotherhood members are spewing profanity at him.

Medo has recently made several videos outside Egyptian consulates slamming the Muslim Brotherhood diaspora for trying to lock the gates of Egyptian embassies and consulates with chains.

The members of the Islamist group claim they protest the genocide in Gaza, but have not opted to lock Israeli diplomatic premises with chains or organize any significant protest around it. 

In previous statements to Youm7 newspaper, Mido said that the union’s initiative started following the Muslim Brotherhood attack on the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv. “We decided to protest in front of Egyptian embassies, starting with the Egyptian embassy in the Netherlands. We are going down to protect the embassies. The initiative is a personal effort from the union.”

He explained that the movement aimed at raising international awareness against the terrorist Brotherhood group.

Wide political denounce

Member of Parliament Soliman Wahdan, Secretary of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the National Front Party, affirmed in statements his absolute rejection of the arrest of Ahmed Abdelkader ‘Mido’, head of the Egyptian Youth Abroad Movement, emphasizing that Egyptian youth abroad are the “shields of Egyptian embassies”.

Wahdan added that the assaults on Egyptian embassies are ‘terrorist attacks’ and represent the extremist ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood. He emphasized his rejection of any outbidding of Egypt's role in preserving the Palestinian cause.

Vice President of the Conference Party, El-Saeed Ghoneim, expressed his strong condemnation of the British authorities' arrest of the young Egyptian Ahmed Abdelkader, describing the move as ‘a flagrant violation of legitimate rights and an unacceptable bias toward the agendas of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood.’

Ghoneim emphasized that ‘Mido’ had not committed any violation that would justify his arrest, explaining that all he did was express his patriotism and his rejection of the attempts by Muslim Brotherhood members to attack Egyptian state institutions abroad. He noted that he [Mido] represents a ‘model of loyal Egyptian youth who defend their homeland’.

He added that what happened clearly reveals the British authorities' double standards and bias toward a group that the Egyptian people have rejected.

Ghoneim called on the British authorities to quickly release ‘Mido’ and halt any repressive measures against members of the Egyptian community. He emphasized Egypt's rejection of Britain becoming a ‘haven’ or ‘tool’ for the terrorist group that targets its stability and national security.

Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Mahran, professor of public international law and member of the American and European Associations of International Law, criticized Mido’s arrest, stressing that “such measure, comes at a time when European countries are failing to arrest the real perpetrators of the attacks on Egyptian embassies and violations of international law.”

Mahran explained that the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations obliges all states to protect foreign diplomatic missions on their territory and hold accountable anyone who attacks them. He emphasized that Article 22 of the Convention explicitly stipulates that the host state is obligated to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission from any intrusion or damage.

He pointed out that the countries that witnessed attacks on Egyptian embassies have failed to implement this basic international obligation.

Mahran emphasized the shocking legal paradox; European countries arrested a ‘patriotic’ Egyptian man who was defending his country and its embassies, while leaving the actual perpetrators, who violated international law, unpunished.

He explained that this contradiction reveals a dangerous double standard in the application of international law and a clear bias against legitimate Egyptian rights. He emphasized that Mido was exercising his legitimate right to defend his country in accordance with international law, while the attackers on the embassies committed clear crimes against international law and were not held accountable.

Egyptian official response

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Badr Abdelatty demanded a clarification of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Egyptian national Ahmed Abdelkader during a phone call on Tuesday with UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

He requested a speedy investigation into the circumstances of his arrest and the reasons that led to it, stressing his eagerness to learn the results of the investigations and his speedy release.

The foreign ministry has also instructed Egypt’s embassy in London to follow up on the case, provide support to Abdelkader and seek his prompt release.

Earlier this week, a circulated video on social media showed the security of Egypt’s Consulate in New York defending themselves and the Consulate from an assault as one of a series of recent attacks organized by members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood group against Egypt’s diplomatic missions abroad.

A similar attack took place against the Egyptian diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, of which Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty deeply condemned. According to a 19th August statement, Minister Abdelatty stressed the importance of providing security protection for the Egyptian diplomatic mission in the Netherlands, highlighting the Dutch side's responsibility under international law to protect it from any violations.

He expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the attack on the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague and underscored the Netherlands' responsibility to ensure it doesn't happen again.

The Dutch minister expressed his deep regret over the ‘individual incident’ that occurred in front of the Egyptian Embassy. He confirmed that he had spoken with the relevant security authorities, who intend to increase security measures at the embassy.