U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing criticism after he welcomed home a recently released Egyptian prisoner who allegedly posted violent and antisemitic language on his social media in the past.

Successive British governments have pushed for the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a dual British-Egyptian national who had been behind bars in Egypt for most of the last 14 years.

He was released from prison in September following a pardon by the Egyptian president but remained in the country under a travel ban that was only recently lifted, allowing him to return to the U.K. on Friday.

Starmer celebrated Abd el-Fattah's return by saying he was "delighted" that the activist had been reunited with his family in Britain.

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Meanwhile, a senior member of the opposition Conservative Party criticized Starmer for giving a "personal, public endorsement" to Abd el-Fattah.

Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor, wanted to know whether Starmer was aware of past social media posts in which Abd el-Fattah allegedly endorsed killing Zionists and police. Jenrick also demanded that Starmer condemn Abd el-Fattah’s remarks and withdraw his "unalloyed endorsement" of the activist.

"Nobody should be imprisoned arbitrarily nor for peaceful dissent," Jenrick wrote. "But neither should the prime minister place the authority of his office behind someone whose own words cross into the language of racism and bloodshed."

Jenrick, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have called for Abd el-Fattah’s British citizenship to be revoked and for him to be deported.

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The U.K. government later clarified that the prime minister did not know about the "abhorrent" social media posts when he issued the welcoming statement.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement that it had been "a long-standing priority" of governments under both major parties to push for Abd el-Fattah’s release, but it said that does not imply an endorsement of his social media posts.

"The government condemns Mr. El-Fattah’s historic tweets and considers them to be abhorrent," the statement said.

Abd el-Fattah issued an "unequivocal apology" on Sunday, describing his past comments as the "expressions of a young man’s anger" during regional crises and police brutality in Egypt.

Abd el-Fattah’s family in the U.K. had argued that he spent most of the past 14 years behind bars because of his opposition to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's government.

His mother, Laila Soueif, 69, was on a 10-month hunger strike to pressure British authorities to do more to secure her son’s freedom.

Shortly after Abd el-Fattah arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport, critics began circulating his past social media posts. Abd el-Fattah has previously said the comments were taken out of context and were part of a "private conversation" that happened during an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to The Times of London.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

If Week 17’s "Sunday Night Football" matchup is anything like what the NFL Playoffs will be like this season, football fans will be loving every second of play.

The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, two bears gunning for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, put together a thrilling primetime game on Sunday night in the Bay Area.

But only the 49ers helped their chances at that top seed in their conference with a thrilling 42-38 win.

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This was a back-and-forth game all night long on the scoreboard, and it began on the first offensive snap of the game for the 49ers. But it wasn’t Brock Purdy and company getting good field position.

Instead, Jaylon Johnson jumping a ball intended for Jauan Jennings ended with T.J. Edwards picking off the pass and taking it back 34 yards for the pick-six just 15 seconds into the game.

The 49ers immediately faced a 7-0 deficit, but Purdy was unfazed all game long, and it showed on the ensuing drive following the interception. San Francisco went nine plays and 65 yards downfield, as Purdy found Jake Tonges, filling in for an injured George Kittle in the top tight end role, to tie the game up.

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After three straight punts, the 49ers and Bears would combine for five straight touchdown drives, starting with Purdy scrambling for a 10-yard touchdown run — the first of two on the night. It was set up by a 41-yard Christian McCaffrey run, as the veteran had another successful week on the ground.

Williams, though, wanted to show off his laser arm, as he spotted rookie Luther Burden III downfield for a 35-yard strike to tie the game at 14 apiece.

McCaffrey was able to find the end zone at the beginning of the second quarter to cap a nine-play drive, but an offsides by the 49ers on the ensuing drive allowed Williams a free play to find rookie tight end Colston Loveland for a 36-yard touchdown.

It was the 49ers walking into the locker room with the lead, however, with Purdy finishing off a methodical 15-play drive that used up almost nine minutes of second-quarter clock with his three-yard rushing touchdown.

When the second half began, the Bears and 49ers only got one drive each in the third quarter, but they both cashed in for touchdowns — Kyle Juszczyk for San Francisco and D’Andre Swift for Chicago. But after Swift scored his second touchdown of the half, Williams and the Bears’ offense were finally able to get the lead back for the first time since that pick-six to start the game.

It wasn’t the touchdown head coach Ben Johnson wanted, but a field goal by Cairo Santos gave Chicago the 38-35 lead with 5:22 left to play in the game. There was still time for San Fran, though, and Purdy didn’t waste it.

Jennings was silent with just one catch for four yards all game long when Purdy hit him perfectly in stride and he took it the distance for a 38-yard touchdown catch-and-run to retake the lead.

The four-point deficit for the Bears meant Williams had to find the end zone with just over two minutes left to play. They were able to convert it on fourth-and-5, and after a nifty catch-and-pitch from Loveland to Swift, the Bears were on the two-yard line with four seconds left.

Williams surveyed the end zone and kept the play alive with his legs, but he was unable to find Jahdae Walker for the game-winning touchdown.

As a result of the loss, the Bears are no longer going to be the No. 1 seed. On the other hand, the 49ers are just one win away from securing it, as they play the Seattle Seahawks next week.

In the box score, McCaffrey tallied 181 yards from scrimmage, including 140 on the ground on 23 carries with his score. Purdy was 24-of-33 passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, while rushing for 28 yards and his two touchdowns.

For the Bears, Williams was 25-of-42 for 330 yards and two touchdowns, while Burden finished the night with 138 receiving yards on eight catches with his touchdown.

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