Egypt Revokes Citizenship of Brothers Anas and Tarek Habib Following Controversy

Egypt has revoked the citizenship of brothers Anas and Tarek Habib after they acquired foreign nationality without prior government approval, according to two Cabinet decisions published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, 12 November.

The decisions, signed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, were issued on 1 and 2 November following a recommendation by the Minister of Interior and Cabinet approval.

Decision No. 90 of 2026 revoked the citizenship of Tarek Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Habib, born in Beheira Governorate in September 1994, while Decision No. 93 applied to Anas Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Mohamed Habib, born in Saudi Arabia in July 1998.

Under Egypt’s Nationality Law No. 26 of 1975, Egyptians are required to obtain permission from the Minister of Interior before acquiring another nationality. Those who do so without permission may have their Egyptian citizenship revoked through a Cabinet decision.

The decisions did not specify which foreign nationality either brother had acquired.

Anas Habib, who is based in the Netherlands, attracted attention in July 2025 after filming himself placing a padlock on the gates of the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague during protests over restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

The incident was part of a wider wave of demonstrations outside Egyptian diplomatic missions in Europe, where protesters called on Egypt to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Egyptian authorities condemned the incidents and raised concerns about the security of their diplomatic missions abroad.

In August 2025, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp expressed regret over an attack on the Egyptian Embassy during a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, pledging additional measures to protect the mission.

The dispute resurfaced in October 2026 when Dutch authorities detained Ahmed Nasser, deputy head of the Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, on suspicion of threatening Anas Habib.

This came after Anas filmed himself outside the Egyptian Embassy in the Hague hurling insults at staff members as Dutch police stood by.

Following the detention, demonstrators gathered outside the Dutch Embassy in Cairo demanding Nasser’s release.

The Dutch Embassy subsequently suspended public services on 22 October before resuming full consular operations on 4 November.

The citizenship decisions were issued shortly before their publication on 12 November, although the government cited unauthorised acquisition of foreign nationality, rather than the embassy incidents, as the legal basis for the revocations.