The family of Egyptian activist al-Qaradawi asks the Lebanese Prime Minister for his release | Human rights news

Al-Qaradawi’s family seeks the intervention of the Lebanese prime minister to prevent his deportation to Egypt, fearing risks to his life.

The family of Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi has called on Lebanese authorities to release him immediately, as fears grow that he will be deported to Egypt, where he is wanted by law.

Al-Qaradawi’s relatives issued a press statement on Sunday saying 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 also a Turkish citizen and lives with his family in Istanbul.

“As a family, we trust in the wisdom of the Lebanese leaders and the worthy people of Lebanon,” the press release said. “Lebanon has always been a symbol of the defense of freedoms, and we call on the Lebanese Prime Minister, in the name of justice and humanity, to immediately intervene to free him and ensure his safe return to his family and three daughters waiting for him in Istanbul.”

Al-Qaradawi, son of the late Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, was arrested on December 28 due to an Egyptian arrest warrant, a Lebanese judicial official quoted by the AFP news agency and the family said. He was detained at the Masnaa border crossing after entering Lebanon from Syria.

Al-Qaradawi had been sentenced in absentia by an Egyptian court to five years in prison 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, and warned that Lebanon would endanger al-Qaradawi’s life if it extradited him to Egypt.

“His extradition to any country that demands him endangers his life, especially considering the history of human rights violations in those countries,” said the press release issued on behalf of al-Qaradawi’s family.

Al-Qaradawi’s lawyer in Lebanon, Mohammed Sablouh, had previously said his client could be tortured if he were handed over to Egypt, a country accused by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International of repressing political dissidents and committing crimes, including torture, “with impunity.” ”.

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

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

The activist has also become an outspoken critic of Egypt’s current leader, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power after a bloody 2013 coup against elected president Mohamed Morsi, who later died in prison.