Egyptian poet and writer Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi remains in detention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following his forcible deportation from Lebanon on January 8, 2025. To date, no official information has been provided regarding his legal status or the conditions of his detention, raising serious concerns about his safety and rights.
Al-Qaradawi was initially arrested in Lebanon on December 28, 2024, upon his return from Syria, before being handed over to Emirati authorities at the request of the UAE Public Prosecution.
Since his deportation, neither his family nor his lawyers have been able to contact him, fueling fears about his well-being and access to legal representation. His prolonged incommunicado detention constitutes a violation of international human rights standards, particularly Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees protection against arbitrary detention and ensures the right to legal counsel.
Despite assurances given by Emirati authorities to their Lebanese counterparts regarding his treatment in accordance with international human rights standards, his fate remains unknown. His detention raises serious concerns about the risk of enforced disappearance, as highlighted in the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Al-Qaradawi, who also holds Turkish citizenship and resides in Turkey, is entitled to consular protection from Ankara under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. However, there have been no reports confirming whether he has been granted consular visits, legal assistance, or access to information regarding any charges against him.
His case has drawn attention to broader concerns over due process and fair trial guarantees in the UAE, where rights groups have documented prolonged detentions without fair trials and reported systematic abuses against political detainees and prisoners of conscience.
Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Al-Qaradawi’s fate, Emirati authorities must clarify his legal status, ensure his fundamental rights—including access to legal counsel and family contact—are upheld, and facilitate his safe return to Turkey.
