4 days ago
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.
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'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.
