The Honorable John Thune
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House, and Members of Congress,
We are writing to call on you to take urgent action to prevent the extradition of Abdel Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following the Lebanese Ministerial Cabinet’s decision to approve his extradition. As you may be aware, the Biden administration has recently taken steps to reprogram $95 million in military aid for Lebanon. This assistance should not be provided if the Lebanese authorities proceed with this extradition, which contradicts Lebanese and international law and sets a dangerous precedent. Such a decision could endanger other activists and dissidents residing in Lebanon and the region while further enabling transnational repression. Given the UAE’s documented history of politically motivated persecution and widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention and torture, Al-Qaradawi’s extradition would put him at grave risk. It is urgent that you send a strong message that the United States stands firm in its commitment to human rights and the protection of individuals from politically driven persecution.
On December 28, 2024, Lebanese authorities detained Al-Qaradawi at the request of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC), based on fabricated charges from Egypt. The UAE has since requested his extradition, citing allegations related to a social media post in which he exercised his right to freedom of expression. Al-Qaradawi has previously been subjected to politically motivated convictions in Egypt, including two three-year prison sentences for “spreading false news” and “insulting the judiciary.” On January 7, 2025, the Lebanese Council of Ministers made the decision to extradite him to the UAE, despite the country’s well-documented history of human rights abuses.
Al-Qaradawi, 54, is an Egyptian-Turkish poet, writer, and media figure known for his advocacy of freedom and democracy. A vocal critic of authoritarianism, he opposed the Mubarak regime, co-founding movements like Kefaya and supporting figures such as Mohamed ElBaradei and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh. His poetry gained prominence during Mubarak’s rule, leading to persecution and unjust charges. Al-Qaradawi’s sister, Ola, was previously unjustly detained in Egypt for four years and secured her release with the critical help of the U.S. Congress, and his brother-in-law, Hossam Khalef, remains in detention in Egypt more than seven years after his arbitrary arrest. Since 2015, Al-Qaradawi has lived in Turkey, continuing his activism for justice and human rights. The Turkish government has formally requested that the Lebanese authorities not extradite Al-Qaradawi and that he be handed over exclusively to Turkey.
We urge you to do everything in your power to prevent the extradition of Abdel Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi to the UAE, where he faces a significant risk of torture and persecution. In light of his politically motivated detention, he must be released immediately and allowed to travel to Turkey or another country of his choice.
Signatories:
- Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
- Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF)
- Egyptian Front for Human Rights
- Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF)
- EgyptWide for Human Rights
- Sinai Foundation for Human Rights
- Lebanese Center for Human Rights
- Refugee Platform in Egypt (RPE)
- Democratic Diwan Organization
- Unity for Democracy
- MENA Rights Group
- REDWORD for Human Rights & Freedom of Expression
- HuMENA for Human Rights and Civic Engagement
- Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF)
