UAE pardons Egyptian dissident-poet al-Qaradawi facing 10 years in prison
Summary
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has pardoned Egyptian activist and poet Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the UAE. Al-Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon and extradited to the UAE, where he faced charges related to public security, but rights groups said his arrest was about free speech.Key Facts
- Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian poet and activist, was arrested in Lebanon in December 2024.
- He was extradited to the UAE in January 2025 and charged with activities aimed at undermining public security.
- On August 27, 2025, al-Qaradawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined about $55,000 by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court.
- A few days later, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a pardon for him.
- It is unclear if al-Qaradawi has already been released following the pardon.
- Al-Qaradawi is the son of Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a respected Sunni Muslim scholar influential in the Arab Spring movements.
- Human rights groups and UN experts had urged his release, stating his detention was for exercising free speech rights.
- Al-Qaradawi’s family expressed concern that Lebanon endangered his life by extraditing him to the UAE.
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