Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi: Egyptian poet facing extradition to UAE 'at Beirut airport'

Lawyers for Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi said he was taken to the airport in Beirut on Wednesday afternoon, a day after the Lebanese government approved his extradition to the United Arab Emirates over a social media post.

Fears about his imminent extradition were heightened earlier on Wednesday with the arrival in Beirut of a plane owned by RoyalJet, the same Emirati company which rights groups have said wrongfully extradited a Bahraini dissident from Serbia in 2022.

Middle East Eye understands that Qaradawi, an activist from Egypt with Turkish citizenship and son of late prominent Islamic scholar Yousef al-Qaradawi, is scheduled to leave at 4.30pm local time, around the same time flight monitors say the plane will be leaving Lebanon.

RoyalJet did not immediately respond to MEE’s requests for comment on Wednesday. 

The Geneva-based MENA Rights Group, which flagged the flight to MEE, said it had sent a letter to the company on Wednesday raising its concerns after Qaradawi’s extradition arrest.

UN experts urged Lebanese authorities on Wednesday to reconsider Qaradaqi's case and reject his extradition, saying they fear he could be subject to torture, ill-treatment or enforced disappearance if he is deported.

Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon on 28 December after returning from Syria where he took part in celebrations following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

He was recorded in a three-minute video, posted to Twitter, saying he hoped the country’s future wouldn’t be hindered by Arab states including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The UAE and Egypt then filed requests for Qaradawi’s extradition. 

Haydee Dijkstal, a barrister with 33 Bedford Row Chambers, who is acting on behalf of Qaradawi's family, said earlier on Wednesday the 54-year-old had been able to speak with his family after the Lebanese government's decision on Tuesday.

“Abdul Rahman has let his family know today that he started a hunger strike after hearing the decision yesterday," Dijkstal told MEE. 

"He understands he will be moved to the airport soon and has told them that he is keeping his spirits high but continuing his hunger strike.”