[REVISION HISTORY]
UAE presidential pardon of Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi
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2026-09-06 14:11 UTC → 2026-09-10 02:00 UTC ·
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In September 2026, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a presidential pardon for Egyptian-Turkish poet and activist Abdul Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi. The pardon followed a ruling by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal’s Cybercrime Division, Division on August 27, which had sentenced Al Qaradawi to 10 years in prison and a fine of approximately 200,000 dirhams ($54,452) for activities described as “stirring and undermining public security.” Al Qaradawi Qaradawi, the son of the late cleric Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, was arrested in Lebanon in late 2024 and extradited to the UAE in early 2025 after recording a video critical of the governments in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. His detention and extradition had drawn criticism from human rights organizations and United Nations experts regarding legal guarantees and potential mistreatment. Following the pardon, his release, Al Qaradawi’s family released Qaradawi issued a statement video message expressing gratitude to the UAE leadership for responding to mediations and to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noting that Turkish authorities had worked extensively Erdogan for Turkey’s extensive efforts to secure his release. The freedom. Al Qaradawi stated that his principles remain unchanged and noted that he did not experience any “physical or verbal abuse” during his detention. His family also thanked released a statement thanking various governments, media outlets, and rights groups that campaigned for his freedom. release.
Versions
- 2026-09-10 02:00 UTC UAE presidential pardon of Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi
- 2026-09-06 14:11 UTC UAE presidential pardon of Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi
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