Egypt Revokes Citizenship of Brothers for Foreign Nationality Acquisition
Egypt has officially annulled the citizenship of brothers Anas and Tarek Habib after they were found to have obtained foreign nationality without the necessary governmental consent. This decision was made public through two Cabinet resolutions published in the Official Gazette on November 12.
The resolutions, signed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, were enacted on November 1 and 2, following a recommendation from the Minister of Interior and subsequent Cabinet approval.
Specifically, Decision No. 90 of 2026 pertains to Tarek Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Habib, born in Beheira Governorate in September 1994, while Decision No. 93 applies to Anas Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman Mohamed Habib, who was born in Saudi Arabia in July 1998.
According to Egypt’s Nationality Law No. 26 of 1975, citizens must secure permission from the Minister of Interior before acquiring any foreign nationality. Failure to obtain this authorization may lead to the revocation of Egyptian citizenship through a Cabinet decree.
The specific foreign nationalities acquired by the brothers were not disclosed in the announcements.
Anas Habib’s Controversial Protest Activities
Anas Habib, currently residing in the Netherlands, gained notoriety in July 2025 for a protest act wherein he filmed himself placing a padlock on the gates of the Egyptian Embassy in The Hague. This protest was part of larger demonstrations advocating for the easing of restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
These protests generated significant attention outside Egyptian diplomatic missions across Europe, urging Egypt to permit the influx of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Authorities in Egypt expressed disapproval of these protests, raising concerns regarding the safety of their embassies abroad.
Escalating Diplomatic Tensions
In August 2025, the Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp, conveyed his regrets concerning an attack on the Egyptian Embassy during a call with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, and promised enhanced security measures for the embassy.
The situation escalated in October 2026 when Dutch law enforcement detained Ahmed Nasser, deputy head of the Union of Egyptian Youth Abroad, on allegations of threatening Anas Habib. This incident followed another protest where Anas filmed himself verbally confronting embassy staff while Dutch police looked on.
Subsequent to Nasser’s detention, demonstrators gathered outside the Dutch Embassy in Cairo, demanding his release. The Dutch Embassy responded by halting public services on October 22 but resumed regular consular functions by November 4.
The citizenship revocations were announced shortly before their public disclosure on November 12, with the government citing the unauthorized acquisition of foreign nationality as the basis for these decisions, rather than the recent embassy-related incidents.
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