Amnesty International has urged the immediate release of Egyptian-Turkish poet Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, who has been subjected to enforced disappearance since January 8, 2025, following his extradition from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Rights groups have described the case as a clear act of transnational repression.
Al-Qaradawi was arrested by Lebanese security forces on December 28, 2024, at the Masnaa border crossing with Syria. Lebanese authorities approved his extradition to the UAE based on false and fabricated charges of “spreading fake news” and “disturbing public security.” These politically motivated accusations were linked to a video he posted while in Syria, in which he openly criticized the Egyptian, Emirati, and Saudi authorities.
Human rights organizations warn that the case exposes illegitimate cooperation between authoritarian regimes to silence dissent abroad, putting Al-Qaradawi’s life and safety at serious risk. His family has been left without any information about his whereabouts or legal status, and he has been denied consular access by Turkish officials.
Amnesty International emphasized that the urgent action campaign will remain open until October 1, 2025, urging the international community to press for his immediate and unconditional release and to hold those responsible for this cross-border repression accountable.
