Egyptian Dissident Detained in UAE: Communication Severed for Days
28 Human Rights Groups Concerned Over Disappearance of Egyptian Poet Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Twenty-eight human rights organizations have voiced deep alarm over the complete disappearance of Egyptian dissident poet Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, last heard from on January 8, 2025. This occurred after he boarded a private plane to Abu Dhabi, following a decision by the Lebanese Cabinet to deport him to the UAE based on a request from the Emirati Attorney General.
In a joint statement obtained by “Emarat Leaks,” the organizations described Al-Qaradawi’s detention after his forced extradition from Lebanon as a dangerous legal precedent. They accused the UAE of misusing international security agreements for political retribution against dissidents, highlighting a disturbing pattern of using cross-border cooperation to suppress freedoms and silence critics.
The groups called on UAE authorities to immediately reveal Al-Qaradawi’s location and detention conditions, urging that he be allowed unrestricted communication with his family and lawyers.
Holding the UAE accountable for his safety, they demanded his unconditional release and safe return to Turkey, where he holds citizenship and resides.
They also appealed to Turkish authorities to take swift diplomatic action to uncover Al-Qaradawi’s fate and secure his release, emphasizing the UAE’s notorious track record of rights abuses, including the mistreatment and torture of prisoners of conscience.
Al-Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon on December 28, 2024, after returning from Syria. His detention was reportedly triggered by a complaint from the Emirati Attorney General through the Lebanese Embassy in Abu Dhabi, related to a video posted on his personal page. This was followed by an expedited Lebanese Cabinet decision, laden with political implications, to deport him to the UAE on January 8, 2025.
Since his extradition, no communication has been possible between Al-Qaradawi, his family, or his lawyers. UAE authorities have disclosed no details about his location, detention conditions, or any legal proceedings against him.
The organizations condemned this as part of a broader trend of escalating human rights abuses across the region, where international security collaboration is weaponized for repression. Such practices, they warned, pose a direct threat to the global human rights framework by enabling cross-border targeting of dissidents and violating international law.
A renowned poet and journalist, Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi holds both Egyptian and Turkish citizenship. Known for his strong stance against authoritarianism, he co-founded movements like “Kefaya” and supported reformist politicians, which subjected him to persecution during Hosni Mubarak’s regime. Since 2015, he has lived in Turkey, continuing his advocacy for justice and human rights.
The organizations reiterated their demand for his immediate release and safe return, urging the UAE to disclose his location and ensure his safety. They also called for an urgent consular visit from Turkish authorities and diplomatic pressure to secure his release and safeguard his rights.
