Abdul Rahman Qaradawi's family thanks Erdogan after UAE pardon

The family of Egyptian-Turkish poet and opposition figure Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi has thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey’s leadership for their efforts to secure his release from detention in the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement on Saturday, the family said Turkish authorities had "done a great deal for this cause" and spared no effort until Qaradawi was freed. It also thanked the UAE leadership for the pardon, as well as governments, rights groups, and media outlets who had campaigned for his release.

Qaradawi was released after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a presidential pardon on Friday, days after an Abu Dhabi court sentenced him to 10 years in prison and imposed a fine of 200,000 dirhams ($54,000).

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal’s cybercrime division convicted Qaradawi on 27 August. Emirati authorities accused him of activities aimed at "stirring and undermining public security".

He was arrested by Lebanese authorities on 28 December 2024 after returning from Syria, where he had recorded a video critical of the Egyptian, Emirati and Saudi governments. Lebanon subsequently extradited him to the UAE in January 2025, despite warnings from rights groups that he could be at risk of serious violations.

Qaradawi, a poet, writer and prominent critic of Egypt’s government, is a dual Egyptian-Turkish national and the son of the late Egyptian-born Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

The case drew sustained criticism from rights organisations over the extradition, his alleged incommunicado detention and concerns that he had been targeted over peaceful expression.