Lebanon approves extradition of Egyptian activist al-Qaradawi to UAE. news
Amnesty International has warned that there could be a risk of human rights violations if al-Qaradawi is extradited to the United Arab Emirates.
The Lebanese government has decided to extradite Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite warnings that he could be mistreated there.
The office of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced on Tuesday that the country is ready to extradite the son of late Muslim Brotherhood cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates after the cabinet voted in favor.
The 53-year-old was arrested in Lebanon on December 28 shortly after returning from Syria, where he had traveled after opposition fighters overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Before his arrest, the activist had recorded a video of himself at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. In the video he said he hoped the Syrian people would emerge victorious after a tumultuous time. He also criticized officials of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Both the UAE and Egypt have filed requests for his extradition.
The Lebanese government’s decision on Tuesday came hours after Amnesty International called on authorities to immediately reject extradition requests from both Egypt and the UAE.
Global said, “Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi’s arbitrary detention follows comments criticizing Emirati, Saudi Arabian and Egyptian authorities and considers the request for his extradition based on the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression.” Are.” Sarah Hashash, deputy director of the rights organization for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Criticizing officials is not a crime. If returned to Egypt, Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi would be at real risk of long-term unjust imprisonment due to enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment, and an unfair trial. “If they are returned to the UAE, they will also be at risk of arbitrary detention and other human rights violations.”
Hashash said that forcibly extraditing al-Qaradawi to a country where he could face persecution would be a “gross violation of the principle of non-refoulement under international law” and called the case “a violation of the authority of the Lebanese authorities.” It will be called the “crucial test of commitment”. For freedom of expression”
Al-Qaradawi’s lawyer said he would file an immediate appeal on Wednesday morning to block his extradition, Reuters news agency reported.
Al-Qaradawi is also a Turkish citizen and lives in Istanbul with his family.
Activists have long been critical of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and have also criticized current leader President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power in a 2013 coup.
His sister, Ola al-Qaradawi, was arbitrarily detained in Egypt for four years on what Amnesty described as “false terrorism-related charges”.
