UAE’s Expanding Repression Draws International Warnings
The Emirati activist and opponent, Hamad Al-Shamsi, warned that the authorities in the UAE are deliberately expanding their repressive cross-border policies and using devious methods to abduct opponents and activists.
Al-Shamsi’s warning came in response to Abu Dhabi’s official request for the extradition of Egyptian poet and preacher Abdel-Rahman Al-Qaradawi, who was arrested by Lebanese security forces while returning from a brief visit to Syria.
Al-Shamsi, in a series of tweets on X platform, stated, “Since the UAE has entered the case of poet Abdel-Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, I would like to point out several points that might be useful.”
The first important point, according to Al-Shamsi, is the case of Khalaf Abdel-Rahman Al-Rumaythi: In May 2023, the UAE requested the extradition of Al-Rumaythi, who held a Turkish passport, while visiting Jordan. Al-Rumaythi was arrested in Amman at Abu Dhabi’s request because he was accused in the “UAE94” case. Despite a Jordanian court’s ruling preventing his extradition, the UAE literally abducted him via a private plane, in cooperation with influential security authorities in Jordan, who were later honored in the UAE.
The second similar case was that of Abdel-Rahman bin Sabih Al-Suwaidi. In 2015, Abu Dhabi abducted him and transported him via a private plane to Abu Dhabi, despite Indonesia’s judiciary refusing his extradition.
According to Al-Shamsi, these two incidents show the UAE’s approach to dealing with wanted persons’ extradition cases, resorting to abduction through influential security figures when the judiciary refuses extradition.
Regarding the UAE’s involvement in the Qaradawi case, Al-Shamsi believes that there are several reasons, including that “the UAE’s influence in Lebanon is stronger than Egypt’s, which could make it a more powerful party in pressuring.”
He adds: “The UAE has a special animosity toward the Qaradawi family, especially after his public criticism of policies to revoke the citizenship of UAE reformists and expel Syrian revolutionaries (see video). You might find this reason surprising, but officials in the UAE often think not with the state’s mindset, but with the mindset of an individual seeking revenge, which is why they punish the families of detainees and opponents.”
According to Al-Shamsi, if the UAE succeeds in obtaining Abdel-Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, the most likely scenario is that he will be handed over to Egypt, as Abu Dhabi views silencing any opposing voice as a victory in its counter-revolutionary agenda.
Al-Shamsi also pointed out that one reason behind Abu Dhabi’s involvement in this issue is the presence of Lebanese detainees in the UAE, as Lebanon seeks to secure their release.
The Emirati activist expressed his concern that this case could be used as leverage on Lebanon to extradite Abdel-Rahman Al-Qaradawi in exchange for the release of the Lebanese detainees.
Building on the previous points, activist Al-Shamsi outlined possible steps to pressure Lebanese authorities not to extradite Al-Qaradawi. One option is exerting pressure on Turkish authorities, as Ankara could play a key role in protecting its citizen in Lebanon, especially if it intervenes seriously.
Al-Shamsi also suggested that popular pressure from Lebanese and Syrian civil society could be an effective method. Mobilizing the Lebanese and Syrian streets to push the Lebanese government for the release of Abdel-Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi might prove valuable.
Additionally, he noted that pressure through UN human rights channels, special rapporteurs, and significant human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International could lead to a successful outcome preventing his extradition.
Al-Shamsi concluded by warning that the UAE’s involvement in this matter could make unlawful methods, such as a swift abduction, possible, particularly taking advantage of the current holiday period, as was done previously with others.
It is noteworthy that Abu Dhabi’s request to extradite Abdel-Rahman Al-Qaradawi came after he was interrogated by Lebanon’s central criminal investigation, following a court order to detain him pending the arrival of an extradition request from Egypt and the UAE.
Lebanese Public Prosecutor Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar confirmed that he would request Egypt to send an extradition request for Al-Qaradawi to study and decide on his surrender.
The judge stated that Al-Qaradawi’s son was detained in Lebanon based on an Interpol notice issued by the Arab Interior Ministers Council, based on a verdict issued by Egyptian courts accusing him of spreading false news and inciting violence and terrorism.
Both Egypt and the UAE are seeking his extradition, with Egypt requesting him under a legal ruling and the UAE requesting his pursuit on its territory for comments he made in a video from Syria that they considered to disturb public peace and incite violence and terrorism.
Thirty human rights organizations have called on Lebanese authorities to release poet Abdel-Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, son of the late spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, and halt what they termed cross-border repressive practices.
Al-Qaradawi was detained by Lebanese authorities upon his return from Syria, based on an Interpol notice issued by the Arab Interior Ministers Council, due to political charges in Egypt, including inciting to destabilize the state and spreading false news.
