Urgent appeal to End the Enforced Disappearance of Poet Abdulrahman Yusuf El-Qaradawi and calling for His release
Published: Feb 6, 2025 Reading time: 4 minutes
We, the undersigned human rights organizations, express our deep concern regarding the enforced disappearance and the lack of information surrounding the due process, whereabouts, and well-being of Egyptian-Turkish poet and writer Abdulrahman Yusuf El-Qaradawi, following his extradition from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 8, 2025. Since that date, his family and legal representatives have been unable to contact him, and no official statement has been issued regarding his detention status or legal situation.
Given the importance of upholding transparency and the rule of law, we respectfully seek clarification on Abdelrahman Yusuf El-Qaradawi’s whereabouts, legal status, and conditions of detention, in line with international human rights standards and the UAE’s commitment to due process and fair trial guarantees.
Abdelrahman Yousuf El-Qaradawi was detained in Lebanon on December 28, 2024, upon his return from Syria, following an extradition request reportedly issued by the UAE’s Public Prosecutor via the Lebanese Embassy in Abu Dhabi. He was subsequently investigated by the Lebanese Public Prosecutor, and on January 8, 2025, the Lebanese Council of Ministers approved his extradition to the UAE, based on assurances from the UAE government to the Lebanese authorities that he would be treated in accordance with international standards and that his safety would be guaranteed.
Since his arrival in the UAE, his family and legal representatives have been unable to contact him or obtain any official information about his legal status. This has raised serious concerns about his well-being and access to fundamental legal safeguards, including regular communication with his family and legal counsel, disclosure of his whereabouts, and regular consular visits.
On January 8, 2025, several UN Special Rapporteurs and experts issued a press release urging the Lebanese authorities not to extradite Abdelrahman Yusuf El-Qaradawi to the UAE, citing serious concerns for his safety. In their statement, the experts called on the Lebanese authorities to reconsider Mr. El-Qaradawi’s case and reject his extradition, in line with Lebanon’s obligations under international law to prevent torture and enforced disappearance and to uphold the fundamental rights of all individuals on its territory.
The ongoing enforced disappearance of Mr. El-Qaradawi and the lack of any information about his status, imprisonment condition, or access to legal representation* and communication with his family unfortunately confirms the concerns raised by these UN experts.
In light of the above, we urgently call upon UAE authorities to adhere to international standards through the following measures:
1. Clarification regarding Abdelrahman Yusuf El-Qaradawi’s current legal status, whereabouts, and conditions of detention.
2. Facilitation of communication between him, his family, and his legal representatives, in accordance with international human rights standards.
3. Guarantees that he is afforded all legal safeguards, including access to due process and fair trial rights.
4. Assurances regarding his physical and psychological well-being including allowing consular visits from the Turkish embassy.
5. Release of Mr. El-Qaradawi and his safe return to Turkey, where he resides and holds citizenship.
Signatory Organizations:
People in Need
Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF)
Egyptian Front for Human Rights ( EFHR)
Sinai Foundation for Human Rights
Al-Nadeem Center
HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression
Refugee Platform in Egypt
Union for Democracy Organization
Diwan Democratic Foundation
Arab Center for Law and Society Studies
Andalus Institute for Tolerance Studies and Anti-Violence
Egypt Wide for Human Rights
Center for the Advocacy of UAE Prisoners
FairSquare
Revolutionary socialists movement
Law and Democracy Support Foundation
Lebanese Center for Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
Gulf Centre Human Rights (GCHR)
the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP)
Legal Agenda
Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy ( TIMEP)
Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center - EDAC
Najda for Human Rights
International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
EuroMed Rights
SMEX
MENA Rights Group
Hurriyat Center for Political and Strategic Studies
EFDA International for Human Rights
Haqqhom for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience in Egypt
Palestinian Lawyers Association
Arab Foundation for Supporting Civil Society and Human Right
Human Rights Monitor
Egyptian coordination for freedoms and rights
Cedar Centre for human rights
ALQST for Human Rights
PEN America
REDWORD for Human Rights & Freedom of Expression
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The statement was also signed by Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska (Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, and Mohammed Al-Obaidi from the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
