Lebanon is poised to extradite Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, detained for critical remarks against UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. His extradition follows cabinet approval and requests from the UAE and Egypt, with human rights advocates urging rejection of these requests based on freedom of expression concerns.
Lebanon has made the decision to extradite Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, the son of the late influential Muslim cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This move followed the approval of Lebanon’s caretaker cabinet, as announced by the office of the Prime Minister. Abdul Rahman, who is an Egyptian-Turkish poet, was apprehended in Lebanon on December 28 after returning from Syria, amid concerns stemming from remarks he made criticizing the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egyptian governments in an online video. In response to his detention, both the UAE and Egypt have formally requested his extradition.
Youssef al-Qaradawi was a prominent Sunni Muslim cleric with significant influence across the Arab world, especially known for his role as a spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. He became particularly noted for his sermons, which were broadcast on Al Jazeera, leading to political tensions, particularly between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors. Following his death in 2022, his son Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi’s recent criticisms of certain Middle Eastern governments have spurred extradition requests from these nations, highlighting ongoing regional political discord and concerns over freedom of expression.
The extradition of Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi from Lebanon to the UAE marks a significant development, reflecting the complexities surrounding freedom of expression and international diplomatic relations within the Middle East. As Lebanon grapples with the implications of this decision, advocates for human rights have called for the rejection of extradition on the grounds of potential political motivations behind the requests from the UAE and Egypt.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
