Family of Egyptian activist al-Qaradawi appeals to Lebanese prime minister for release | human rights news

Al-Qaradawi’s family, fearing danger to his life, seeks the intervention of the Lebanese Prime Minister to prevent him from being deported to Egypt.

The family of Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi has called on Lebanese authorities to immediately release him as concerns grow that he will be deported to Egypt under the law.

Al-Qaradawi’s family said in a press release on Sunday that they had sent a letter to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati asking him to intervene in the case of the Egyptian poet and writer, who is a Turkish citizen and lives with his family. Istanbul.

“As a family, we trust in the wisdom of Lebanon’s leadership and the dignified people of Lebanon,” the press release said. “Lebanon has always been a symbol of freedom. We appeal to the Prime Minister of Lebanon to intervene immediately in the name of justice and humanity to release him and ensure his safe return to his awaiting family and three daughters. In Istanbul for him.”

Al-Qaradawi, the son of the late Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, was arrested on December 28 on an Egyptian arrest warrant, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP. The family was quoted as saying. He was detained at the Masna border crossing after entering Lebanon from Syria.

Al-Qaradawi was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by an Egyptian court on charges of “opposing the state and inciting terrorism,” the official said.

The family said the ruling was a response to an article published by al-Qaradawi in 2012, warning that Lebanon would put al-Qaradawi’s life at risk if he were to be extradited to Egypt.

“Extraditing him to any country that requests him would jeopardize his life, especially given the record of human rights violations in that country,” said a press release issued on behalf of the al-Qaradawi family.

Al-Qaradawi’s Lebanese lawyer, Mohammed Sablouh, has previously said his client could face torture if handed over to Egypt. Egypt has been accused by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, of suppressing political dissidents and committing crimes including torture. “.

The letter from al-Qaradawi’s family is part of a campaign calling for his release and return to Turkey.

The 53-year-old was a long-time opponent of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was toppled in the 2011 revolution.

The activist was also a strong critic of Egypt’s current president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who took power after a bloody coup against elected President Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and later died in prison.