UAE Grants Pardon to Egyptian Poet Al-Qaradawi Amid Controversial Charges

In a surprising turn of events, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted a pardon to Egyptian poet and political activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi. This decision comes shortly after al-Qaradawi was sentenced to a decade in prison by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal’s Cybercrime Division.

Al-Qaradawi, who has been embroiled in legal troubles since his arrest in Lebanon in December 2024, faced serious charges of inciting unrest and undermining public security. Following his extradition to the UAE in January 2025, the court proceedings culminated in a conviction on August 27, where he was also fined 200,000 dirhams ($55,000).

While state media reported that the necessary steps for the implementation of the presidential pardon are underway, it remains unclear whether al-Qaradawi has been released from custody. His family had previously warned that his extradition posed a significant threat to his safety, reflecting broader concerns regarding freedom of expression in the region. Human rights advocates and UN experts had been vocal in their demands for his release, arguing that his arrest was a violation of his rights to free speech.

Source: www.aljazeera.com