Ahmed Abdelkader, widely known as “Mido,” was arrested earlier in the day following clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood diaspora at a demonstration outside Egyptian diplomatic premises.
Footage circulating online showed him resisting arrest as protesters shouted insults, drawing swift attention in Cairo.
Abdelatty, in a phone call with the UK’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, demanded clarification over the detention and pressed for Abdelkader’s release.
The Egyptian embassy in London was also instructed to provide consular support and remain in close contact with British authorities.
His release, reported by Extra News, prompted celebrations among supporters and trended on Egyptian social media, with hashtags calling for his freedom quickly gaining momentum.
The arrest sparked debate in Egypt over the security of its diplomatic missions abroad and the treatment of Egyptian nationals by host states.
In recent weeks, Cairo has summoned several European ambassadors to protest security lapses at its embassies, warning that reciprocal measures could be taken against their missions in Egypt.
“Any country failing to protect Egyptian embassies will be held to the same standard,” Abdelatty affirmed during a televised interview earlier this month.
The National Front Party condemned Abdelkader’s detention as a “flagrant violation of justice and human rights”.
It urged the UK to issue an apology and guarantee the protection of Egyptian diplomatic premises.
It further demanded a review of the privileges granted to the British Embassy in Cairo, insisting that foreign missions must adhere to the same security and diplomatic standards expected of them.
“We will not protect those who do not protect us,” the statement said.
Abdelkader, who heads the Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, has been active in counter-demonstrations against Brotherhood-linked activists in the UK.
Days before his arrest, he posted videos criticizing attempts to chain the gates of the Egyptian embassy, calling them staged provocations that distracted from broader issues such as mobilizing support for Gaza.
His arrest and release also trended widely on Egyptian social media, fuelling debate over reciprocity in diplomatic relations and the security of Cairo’s missions abroad.
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