Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun meets Saudi crown prince on first trip abroad
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Leader says the trip is an opportunity to show the depth of Lebanese-Saudi relations
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Dubai Eye
10 hours ago
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Arab ministers call for immediate halt to aggression on Gaza
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Middle East Eye
14 hours ago
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Forcibly disappeared Egyptian poet marks 145 days in UAE detention, family calls for release
The family of disappeared Egyptian poet Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi have issued a plea to the Emirati government for his release, as he marks 145 days of solitary confinement at an unknown location in the country. Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon in January, and extradited to the UAE over a video he posted to social media while visiting Syria, in which he expressed critical views of the Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi authorities. Both Egypt and the UAE issued extradition requests for Qaradawi, with Lebanese authorities acting on the Emirati warrant on 8 January. Since then, he remains forcibly disappeared in the UAE, with no charges nor an indication about when he will appear in court. According to Qaradawi's UK lawyer, Rodney Dixon, since his extradition Qaradawi's family managed to see him for just 10 minutes on 23 March. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'It was a brief and heavily restricted visit,' Dixon told Middle East Eye. 'They weren't taken to the place where he is being held and still don't know where he is imprisoned. Since then, there has been no further contact, despite repeated requests. 'He remains disappeared in the UAE, held in an undisclosed location. He has now been held for over 130 days without charge, without access to a court, and in clear violation of international human rights standards." Dixon reported that while Qaradawi appeared to be physically stable during the visit, 'it is impossible to know his true condition' given the heavily restricted nature of the interaction. 'What is clear is that he is being held in solitary confinement, with no access to the outside world,' he said. 'Troubling precedent' In a statement given to MEE, Qaradawi's family expressed 'deep concern' about his welfare and urged the Emirati authorities 'to respect his rights and ensure his safety'. 'Our only goal is to see him safe and back home with his family and daughters where he belongs,' they said, adding that they are working closely with his international legal council to secure his release. According to Dixon, Qaradawi does not have a lawyer of his choosing and instead has been assigned a government appointed lawyer, who has provided no information to the family on his whereabouts. In March, a group of United Nations human rights experts raised the alarm over Qaradawi's continued forced disappearance, and called on the UAE to disclose his whereabouts. They further expressed concern regarding the legal process of Qaradawi's extradition, which was triggered by an arrest warrant issued by the little-known security body, the Arab Interior Ministers' Council (AIMC), saying that the move was politically motivated and not based on legal criteria. The extradition process orchestrated by the AIMC, they said, 'is being abused by some states to silence criticism, shut down dissent, and pursue activists beyond their borders'. The Arab Interior Ministers Council: What is it and why are there human rights concerns? Read More » Qaradawi is one of an increasing number of perceived political dissidents targeted for extradition by the AIMC on seemingly political charges. The experts also warned that Qaradawi could face further extradition to Egypt, where he faces a three-year prison sentence for 'spreading false news'. Human Rights Watch has highlighted the UK and the EU's capacity to pressure the UAE for Qaradawi's release, citing their partnerships with the country, including the UK-UAE Sovereign Investment Partnership or the EU-UAE Cooperation Agreement. 'These partnerships are not solely economic in nature; they reflect shared commitments to justice, transparency, and human rights. Silence, in this case, risks signaling that these principles are secondary to strategic interests, setting a troubling precedent that could embolden further transnational repression,' HRW said in a statement. Dixon has written to the UK Foreign Office, confirming that he had 'received feedback' from them, but was unable to disclose further details. 'We look forward to seeing the full weight of their support to protect his rights,' he said.
Middle East Eye
15 hours ago
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Saudi Arabia accuses Israel of 'extremism' after historic West Bank visit blocked
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has accused Israel of "extremism" after it blocked a high-level delegation of foreign ministers from visiting the occupied West Bank. Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud spoke out during a press conference in the Jordanian capital, alongside the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday. However, the visit was postponed after Israeli authorities warned late on Friday that they would deny the ministers entry. As the occupying power controlling the West Bank's boundary with Jordan, Israel's approval was required for the delegation to travel. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for [a] peaceful pathway .. It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance," the Saudi foreign minister said. Israeli and US officials concerned Trump could push F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia Read More » The visit was set to be the highest level Saudi official delegation to the West Bank in six decades. An Israeli official said that Israel decided to "not cooperate" with the visit. "The Palestinian Authority – which to this day refuses to condemn the October 7 massacre – intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state," the official said. Ayman Safadi, Jordan's foreign minister, said the decision was yet another example of Israel "killing any chance of a just and comprehensive" settlement between Israel and Palestine. Later this month, an international conference is set to take place in New York - co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia - to discuss Palestinian statehood. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt's foreign minister, said the conference would cover security in Gaza after a ceasefire is agreed, reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians remain on their land, and foil any Israeli plans to ethnically cleanse them.
