Watan-Speculation is growing about the fate of Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the son of the late cleric Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who is currently detained in the UAE. This comes after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced active parliamentary efforts to ratify a prisoner exchange agreement with Abu Dhabi.
The agreement, currently under discussion in the Egyptian House of Representatives, appears on the surface to be part of judicial cooperation between Egypt and the UAE. However, it carries hidden implications. Observers believe that Sisi is pushing for its rapid implementation to facilitate the extradition of Al-Qaradawi, who was handed over to UAE authorities from Lebanon on January 9.
According to media reports, Sisi has prioritized this agreement, having recently visited Abu Dhabi to coordinate with its Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Zayed, in preparation for Al-Qaradawi’s transfer. Meanwhile, human rights organizations are calling for the extradition to be halted. These developments come at a time when Sisi faces increasing international criticism over human rights violations and the mistreatment of prisoners in Egypt.
Legally, the agreement stipulates that extradition between the two countries can occur under three key conditions: the existence of a final court ruling, the crime meeting the criteria outlined in the agreement, and established judicial cooperation between both parties. Sources indicate that Sisi is leveraging these provisions to justify Al-Qaradawi’s transfer as part of his broader crackdown on dissenting voices.
Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, who also holds Turkish citizenship, may become a bargaining chip in a larger political game. Notably, Turkey has yet to take a clear stance on the matter, raising questions about Ankara’s position on this sensitive issue.
Nevertheless, these developments are facing fierce opposition from international human rights organizations, which argue that handing Al-Qaradawi over to Egypt would expose him to torture or even execution, given Cairo’s poor record in handling political detainees.
The question remains: Will Abu Dhabi comply with Sisi’s request to extradite Al-Qaradawi despite the potential human rights backlash? Or will it back down to avoid international criticism? The coming days will provide the answer.
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