Human Rights Concern Over the Enforced Disappearance of Poet Abdel Rahman Al-Qaradawi in the UAE
Rights groups demand answers following his forced deportation.
Watan-28 human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over the enforced disappearance of Egyptian poet and dissident Abdel Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi, whose whereabouts have been unknown since January 8, 2025, following his forced deportation from Lebanon to the UAE at the request of the Emirati Attorney General.
In a joint statement, the rights organizations condemned Al-Qaradawi’s detention, describing it as a dangerous precedent in exploiting international security agreements to suppress political opponents.
The organizations called on UAE authorities to immediately disclose his location, allow him to communicate with his family and lawyer, and ensure his unconditional and immediate release.
The rights organizations highlighted the UAE’s troubling record of suppressing dissenting voices and mistreating prisoners of conscience, warning that such practices undermine international human rights standards.
They also urged Turkish authorities, given Al-Qaradawi’s Turkish citizenship, to take urgent diplomatic action to secure his release and press for information on his fate.
Al-Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon on December 28, 2024, allegedly based on a complaint from the Emirati Attorney General regarding a video he posted on his personal page.
He was swiftly deported to the UAE without transparency, raising concerns over the political motivations behind the decision. Since then, UAE authorities have provided no information about his condition or legal status.
The joint statement from human rights organizations emphasized that governments, led by the UAE, are increasingly exploiting international security cooperation to suppress freedom of expression, posing a direct threat to global human rights principles.
The organizations stressed that Al-Qaradawi’s long-standing advocacy for democracy and human rights warrants international intervention to prevent further abuses.
They continue to call for Al-Qaradawi’s immediate release, emphasizing the need for transparency and ensuring his legal and human rights.
Since his extradition, all communication between Al-Qaradawi and his family or lawyer has been severed, with UAE authorities refusing to disclose any details about his location, condition, or any legal proceedings against him, if any.
The organizations noted that this incident adds to a series of practices that deepen the ongoing decline in respect for human rights in the region. Security cooperation between states is being used as a cover for serious violations, expanding the scope of repression and targeting human rights defenders and political dissidents wherever they are.
Additionally, such incidents pose a direct threat to the global human rights system, as forced deportation and targeting individuals beyond their home countries constitute blatant violations of international law and establish a dangerous precedent for cross-border repression.
Abdel Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi is a poet, journalist, and prominent media figure holding both Egyptian and Turkish citizenships. He is known for his unwavering defense of freedom and democracy and his strong opposition to authoritarian regimes.
