A group of activists held a vigil outside the United Arab Emirates' embassy (UAE) in London on Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of the detention of Egyptian poet and opposition figure Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi.
Activists held up posters demanding information on al-Qaradawi’s whereabouts and highlighting that there has been no communication with him.
According to The New Arab’s Arabic language sister site, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Lebanese authorities arrested al-Qaradawi on 28 December 2024 based on an extradition request from the UAE.
Reports state the arrest was based on opinions he expressed, with rights groups stating that this violates his freedom of expression and that the arrest was made despite the absence of a credible legal basis.
Al-Qaradawi, who also holds Turkish citizenship, has had almost no contact with his family or lawyers.
Since his arrival in the UAE, al-Qaradawi has only been permitted to two brief family visits, each lasting less than 10 minutes. The meetings were held in undisclosed locations and were under heavy surveillance.
His lawyers filed an appeal with Lebanon’s highest administrative court, challenging the extradition decree, however, were not successful.
UN Special Procedures experts have previously issued urgent appeals to the Lebanese government, expressing grave concern over fears that al-Qaradawi may be subjected to torture or ill treatment, enforced disappearance or an unfair trial.
Al-Qaradawi’s family state that the conditions of his detention amount to enforced disappearance, and state that he has spent long periods of time in solitary confinement. They also state he is denied from doing any exercise, communicating with others, and is not allowed any of his personal belongings, including books and photos of his children.
According to local media reports, the conditions which he has been held in have caused his mental health to deteriorate.
Rights groups have said over the last year that al-Qaradawi’s detention sets a dangerous precedent and threatens the safety of dissidents and human rights activists living in exile.
Some organisations have also called on Turkish authorities to play a bigger part in trying to secure al-Qaradawi’s release.
Last year, a group of 17 rights organisations issued a joint statement which said that the UAE has provided no official information on al-Qaradawi’s whereabouts and urged authorities to "immediately reveal his location, allow independent legal access, and end arbitrary detention".
Prior to his arrest, Qaradawi posted a video from Damascus's Umayyad Mosque criticising Arab governments, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. In the short video which was widely circulated, he accused the countries of "conspiracies against the region". Rights advocates say this video is widely believed to be a key factor in his targeting.
Qaradawi rose to prominence in the 2000s for poetry that was critical of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. He also helped found several opposition movements, including Kifaya, the National Association for Change, and campaigns opposing hereditary succession under Mubarak.
In 2011, he organised protests amid the sweeping Arab Spring, but was later banned from journalism for criticism of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.