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Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has filed an urgent complaint with the United Nations Special Procedures, requesting immediate intervention in the case of Egyptian activist Abdulrahman al-Qaradawi.
The organization expressed profound concern regarding his extradition by Lebanese authorities to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 10, 2025, highlighting what it calls 'illegal' and 'politically retaliatory' actions surrounding his arrest and transfer.
In its statement, WJWC explained that al-Qaradawi, the son of the late prominent Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi, was arrested in Lebanon on December 29, 2024. His arrest followed an arrest warrant issued by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. The UAE had requested his extradition after a video in which al-Qaradawi criticized the policies of several Arab governments was shared widely. The UAE authorities have claimed that the video amounts to 'incitement to violence and disruption of civil peace,' but WJWC stresses that these charges fall under the protection of freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by international law.
The organization also raised concerns over the swift and unprecedented issuance of the arrest warrant, which it views as indicative of retaliatory motives. Al-Qaradawi’s lawyers have confirmed that the charges against him do not constitute a crime under Lebanese law, making his extradition a violation of both Lebanese constitutional protections for freedom of expression and international law.
WJWC warned that al-Qaradawi may face torture or other forms of ill-treatment in UAE detention centers, where reports of human rights abuses, including unfair trials and torture, are widespread. The organization has called for al-Qaradawi's immediate release, urging UAE authorities to guarantee his protection from any ill-treatment and to allow him access to his lawyer and family.
Additionally, WJWC urged the international community to apply pressure on the UAE to end its politicization of international arrest warrants, calling it a serious deviation from Interpol’s original mission to combat crime, not to settle political scores. The organization also called for a comprehensive review of arrest warrant procedures to ensure they are not misused against political opponents or human rights defenders.
In conclusion, WJWC reiterated its call for the UN Special Procedures to act swiftly to safeguard al-Qaradawi’s rights and to prevent the continuation of politically motivated charges that threaten his well-being and freedom.
