The Lebanese government has decided to extradite Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates, Lebanese Information Minister Ziad Makary announced on Tuesday.
Qaradawi, the son of the late prominent Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi, was arrested in Lebanon late last month after crossing the border from Syria. He is wanted by both Egypt and the UAE on various charges.
The UAE’s extradition request was based on a video Qaradawi posted online where he celebrated the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and criticized the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The UAE considered this “incitement” against the country.
Qaradawi is a vocal critic of the Egyptian government and a prominent figure in opposition circles. His father, Yusuf al-Qaradawi, was a prominent figure in the Muslim Brotherhood and a leading Islamic scholar.
This decision by the Lebanese government is likely to draw criticism from human rights groups and raise concerns about freedom of expression and the potential for political persecution.
