UN Expert Urged to Investigate Lebanon for Alleged Torture of Egyptian-Turkish Poet.
A Lebanese dissident, Abdulrahman al-Qaradawi, has been held in solitary confinement for over 10 months in the UAE, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights groups. The Egyptian-Turkish poet and activist was arrested by Lebanese authorities after returning from Syria, where he had spoken out against the governments of the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Al-Qaradawi's arrest was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates through a little-known transnational organisation that fosters security cooperation between Arab states. The UAE extradited him to Lebanon on charges of "fake news" and "disturbing public security", despite the fact that he was not a citizen of either country.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, had warned that al-Qaradawi could face torture if sent to the UAE, and his lawyers have now accused the Lebanese government of violating its obligations to uphold human rights. The UN special rapporteur on torture is being urged to investigate Lebanon's role in the treatment of al-Qaradawi.
The brazenness of his arrest has created a chilling precedent for freedom of expression in the Middle East, where governments can often silence critics through extradition and imprisonment. Al-Qaradawi's detention has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, with many calling on the UN to act to protect him.
His family has been allowed only two 10-minute visits since his detention, and have expressed their concerns about his treatment in the UAE. "We will not stop until Abdulrahman is safe," they said. "All we want is to see him back home surrounded by his family, reading us one of his poems again."
The case highlights the need for greater accountability from governments in the region when it comes to human rights and freedom of expression. As Rodney Dixon, al-Qaradawi's international legal counsel, put it: "If governments can hunt down their critics across borders and imprison them, then no one is safe. That's why the UN and the international community must act now to stamp out this behaviour or risk setting a precedent that endangers us all."
A Lebanese dissident, Abdulrahman al-Qaradawi, has been held in solitary confinement for over 10 months in the UAE, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights groups. The Egyptian-Turkish poet and activist was arrested by Lebanese authorities after returning from Syria, where he had spoken out against the governments of the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Al-Qaradawi's arrest was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates through a little-known transnational organisation that fosters security cooperation between Arab states. The UAE extradited him to Lebanon on charges of "fake news" and "disturbing public security", despite the fact that he was not a citizen of either country.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, had warned that al-Qaradawi could face torture if sent to the UAE, and his lawyers have now accused the Lebanese government of violating its obligations to uphold human rights. The UN special rapporteur on torture is being urged to investigate Lebanon's role in the treatment of al-Qaradawi.
The brazenness of his arrest has created a chilling precedent for freedom of expression in the Middle East, where governments can often silence critics through extradition and imprisonment. Al-Qaradawi's detention has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, with many calling on the UN to act to protect him.
His family has been allowed only two 10-minute visits since his detention, and have expressed their concerns about his treatment in the UAE. "We will not stop until Abdulrahman is safe," they said. "All we want is to see him back home surrounded by his family, reading us one of his poems again."
The case highlights the need for greater accountability from governments in the region when it comes to human rights and freedom of expression. As Rodney Dixon, al-Qaradawi's international legal counsel, put it: "If governments can hunt down their critics across borders and imprison them, then no one is safe. That's why the UN and the international community must act now to stamp out this behaviour or risk setting a precedent that endangers us all."
This whole thing smells like a setup to me... I mean, who goes from Syria to Lebanon and gets thrown in for "fake news" over some tweets? 
The UAE's involvement just adds fuel to the fire - what's their angle here? They're not even his citizen. I need more info on this transnational org before I buy into it. How reliable are these human rights groups, really? Can't verify anything through mainstream news outlets... 
like he was just chillin' in syria speakin' out against some govts and now he's being held in solitary confinement for over 10 months?! 
it's so messed up. i mean, the uae is involved too? that's a whole other level of shady. and the fact that lebanon is extraditing him on "fake news" charges is just laughable. 
. Lebanon, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are basically saying "we'll silence anyone who speaks out against us" 
. It's like they wanted to send a message: "We can get away with anything". 
. It's like we're saying "wait, you can't just silence critics and expect everyone to be okay with it" 
. The UN special rapporteur needs to investigate this ASAP 
because if they don't, it sets a bad precedent for the entire region 
.
. Two 10-minute visits in over 10 months? That's not freedom of speech, that's psychological torture 
. The international community needs to be watching their backs and demanding justice for people like Al-Qaradawi 
.
it's like they're saying 'you can't criticize us, you'll be silenced' 
we need to stand up for Abdulrahman al-Qaradawi ASAP 
let's hope they take action before it's too late 
. Its not just about freedom of expression, its about basic human dignity 
. I mean, who gets extradited for 'fake news' 
? Thats just a load of BS 