One year after Lebanese authorities unlawfully extradited Egyptian-Turkish poet and activist Abdulrahman Youssef al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates, human rights groups warn that the case has become a chilling symbol of transnational repression in the Arab world. Human Rights Watch and MENA Rights Group say Lebanon’s actions not only violated domestic law but also breached binding international obligations designed to protect individuals from political persecution and torture.
Al-Qaradawi remains arbitrarily detained in near-isolation in the UAE, with little information available about his legal status or conditions of confinement. Rights groups argue that his continued detention underscores the dangers faced by dissidents and peaceful critics when governments misuse regional security mechanisms to silence free expression.
Arrest And Extradition Timeline
Lebanese authorities arrested al-Qaradawi on December 28, 2024, as he returned from Syria, following a provisional arrest request issued by Egypt. Shortly afterward, the UAE submitted its own extradition request, accusing him of “engaging in activities that aim to stir and undermine public security,” a charge human rights organizations describe as vague and politically motivated.
Despite his lawyer’s legal objections and warnings from United Nations experts, Lebanon extradited al-Qaradawi to the UAE on January 8, 2025. The deportation went ahead even though an appeal was pending before Lebanon’s top administrative court, the State Shura Council, seeking to block the cabinet’s decision.
According to Human Rights Watch, this sequence of events illustrates how expedited extradition procedures can override due-process safeguards when political pressure is at play.
Central to the case is the Arab Interior Ministers Council, a regional body that circulates arrest warrants and extradition requests among Arab League states. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized the Council for lacking transparency and safeguards.
There is no mechanism for individuals targeted by these warrants to access the evidence against them or challenge the requests. MENA Rights Group documented seven cases between 2022 and 2025 in which this system was used to pursue peaceful activists, protesters, and religious minorities across countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Tanya Boulakovski of MENA Rights Group described Lebanon’s compliance with the Council’s request as a clear example of transnational repression facilitated through regional cooperation structures.
The extradition request against al-Qaradawi stemmed from a social media post he published in December 2024 while visiting Syria, in which he criticized UAE authorities. United Nations experts warned that the charges appeared retaliatory and directly linked to his exercise of free expression.
Following his transfer, the Emirates News Agency confirmed that al-Qaradawi was detained under a provisional arrest warrant issued via the Arab Interior Ministers Council. UAE officials claimed he posed a threat to public security, a justification human rights organizations say is routinely used to silence dissent.
Family members have reportedly been allowed only brief visits in March and August, with no official information provided about his detention conditions, legal proceedings, or access to a fair trial.
Violations Of Lebanese And International Law
Human Rights Watch and MENA Rights Group argue that Lebanon’s decision violated multiple legal protections. Under Lebanon’s Penal Code, Article 34 explicitly prohibits extradition for crimes of a political nature. Similar safeguards exist in the Riyadh Arab Agreement for Judicial Cooperation, which bars extradition for politically motivated charges.
Lebanon is also a party to the International Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which obliges states to reject extradition requests when there is a real risk of torture or ill-treatment.
Despite these protections, Lebanon’s State Shura Council later denied al-Qaradawi’s appeal, citing Article 31 of the Penal Code, which allows extradition for offenses deemed to threaten the security of the requesting state. Rights groups warn that this interpretation opens the door to abuse by authoritarian governments seeking to criminalize peaceful speech.
UAE’s Record On Dissent
Over the past decade, UAE authorities have detained numerous activists, human rights defenders, and political dissidents under broad national security laws. Many have received lengthy prison sentences after trials criticized for their lack of independence and fairness.
Human Rights Watch notes that al-Qaradawi’s case fits a broader pattern in which peaceful critics are prosecuted on ambiguous charges related to state security, undermining basic rights to expression and association.
Calls For Accountability And Release
Human Rights Watch and MENA Rights Group are urging Lebanon to launch an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding al-Qaradawi’s extradition and to hold accountable former officials responsible for the decision. They also call on Lebanon to categorically reject future extradition requests based on political expression and to uphold the principle of non-refoulement.
The organizations are calling on the UAE to immediately release al-Qaradawi, halt any attempt to extradite him to Egypt, and allow him to travel to a country where he faces no risk of persecution. They also urge Türkiye, the UAE’s allies, and all Arab League states to intervene and reject similar extradition requests targeting peaceful dissent.
Key Takeaways
- Abdulrahman Youssef al-Qaradawi was extradited from Lebanon to the UAE in January 2025 over a social media post.
- Human Rights Watch and MENA Rights Group say the extradition violated Lebanese law and international treaties.
- The Arab Interior Ministers Council played a key role despite lacking transparency and safeguards for due process.
- Al-Qaradawi remains arbitrarily detained in near-isolation with limited family access.
- Rights groups are calling for accountability in Lebanon and his immediate release by the UAE.
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