The Egyptian government has revoked the citizenship of brothers Anas and Tarek Habib, following their acquisition of foreign nationality without prior government approval. According to two Cabinet decisions published in the Official Gazette on Thursday, 12 November, the decisions were signed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and issued on 1 and 2 November. The decisions were made based on a recommendation by the Minister of Interior and Cabinet approval.
The brothers, Anas Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Mohamed Habib and Tarek Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Habib, were born in Saudi Arabia in July 1998 and Beheira Governorate in September 1994, respectively. Under Egypt's Nationality Law No. 26 of 1975, Egyptians are required to obtain permission from the Minister of Interior before acquiring another nationality. Failure to do so may result in the revocation of their Egyptian citizenship through a Cabinet decision.
Anas Habib, who is based in the Netherlands, gained 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. This 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.
The incident at the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague led to a response from Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, who expressed regret over the attack during a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. The Dutch government pledged additional measures to protect the mission. However, 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.
Following Ahmed Nasser's detention, demonstrators gathered outside the Dutch Embassy in Cairo demanding his release. The Dutch Embassy subsequently suspended public services on 22 October before resuming full consular operations on 4 November. The Egyptian government cited the unauthorized acquisition of foreign nationality as the legal basis for the revocation of the brothers' citizenship, rather than the embassy incidents.
The decisions to revoke the citizenship of Anas and Tarek Habib were issued shortly before their publication on 12 November. The government has not specified which foreign nationality either brother had acquired. The incident has raised concerns about the security of Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad and the implications of acquiring foreign nationality without prior approval.
The revocation of the brothers' citizenship highlights the complexities of Egyptian nationality laws and the consequences of not complying with regulations. The incident also underscores the tensions between Egypt and other countries, particularly the Netherlands, over issues such as humanitarian aid and diplomatic security.
Key points
- Egypt's Nationality Law No. 26 of 1975 requires Egyptians to obtain permission from the Minister of Interior before acquiring another nationality.
- The brothers' acquisition of foreign nationality without approval led to the revocation of their Egyptian citizenship.
- The incident has raised concerns about the security of Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad and the implications of acquiring foreign nationality without prior approval.
