The case of Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi, a poet and activist who was extradited on January 8, 2025, from Lebanon to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has left serious implications for human rights experts and advocates globally. His case is a reflection of a larger human rights crisis in the Gulf region, where Saudi Arabia is frequently singled out as one of the worst offenders of the continued suppression of freedom of expression and political dissent. The trend of Al-Qaradawi’s extradition, questioning, and possible danger in the UAE and otherwise, is indicative of the disturbing procedures of several Middle Eastern governments, especially that of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Background of Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi
Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi was an activist and outspoken critic of regimes in the UAE and Egypt. His extradition is the result of national security-related charges based on a video he allegedly posted on social media during a visit to Syria in which he expressed his hopes that the future of the country would not be impeded by foreign state intervention — including the UAE. Yet his statement, which amounted to a political commentary on the situation in Syria, was then ostensibly used as a basis for the charges against him.
Al-Qaradawi has been held in solitary confinement since his extradition, with no contact with his family or legal counsel; his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. There are no formal legal charges that are known to have been filed against him, and his human rights continue to be violated.
The Role of the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Regional Human Rights Violations
Al-Qaradawi is also detained in the UAE, where there is a well-documented repression of political dissent and silencing of activists. It has a draconian anti-terrorism law that critics say has been used to lock up human rights activists and political opponents. The law’s vague provisions mean that anyone considered a threat to the regime can be persecuted, often under the pretext of national security. In 2020, the U.A.E. enacted a law criminalizing online criticism of the government, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines for those found to have disseminated false information online.
Saudi Arabia, the U.A.E.’s neighbor and a regional superpower, is seen as one of the worst abusers of human rights in the Gulf. Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights over the past few decades has been a frequent target of condemnation by international organizations, and the country has routinely ranked among the worst in its treatment of activists, journalists, and political dissidents. The kingdom has used the terrorism charge many times to imprison people critical of the government, including human rights defenders, writers,s and religious leaders.
- Saudi Arabia’s Crackdown: Saudi Arabia has long detained intellectuals, activists, and clerics who criticize the government’s policies or the royal family’s practices. These individuals are often tortured, face unfair trials , and endure long prison sentences.
- Freedom of Expression: Political repression and restrictions on freedom of speech define both the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s responses to critics. It also includes punishing anything that undermines state authority, such as social media comments or peaceful protests.
The case of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, murdered in 2018, was one of the most high-profile human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has escaped meaningful accountability for the murder — despite overwhelming evidence of the Saudi leadership’s involvement — shedding light on the impunity with which the Saudi regime operates. Jamal Khashoggi’s murder was a “premeditated extrajudicial execution,” according to the United Nations, and his case continues to serve as a touchstone for the kingdom’s attempts to quash dissent.
The Saudi Regime’s Crackdown on Dissent
Apart from the Khashoggi murder, Saudi Arabia has methodically persecuted political activists and human rights defenders. The regime’s tactic to suppress dissent so far has been to jail anyone who publicly criticizes the government or petitions for political reforms. In one example, Loujain al-Hathloul, a Saudi human rights activist, was arrested in 2018 for campaigning for women’s right to drive and engaging in other activism related to gender equality. Sentenced to nearly six years in prison, she was freed in 2021, but her case is a symbol of the broader erosion of citizens’ civil liberties in the kingdom.
- Arrest of Activists: Many Saudi human rights activists are in prison facing charges that usually relate to their political or social activism. Opponents of the government risk arrest, torture, and long prison sentences.
- Harsh Repression Abroad: For Khashoggi and Al-Qaradawi, the Saudi government’s hostility extended beyond its borders to target critics living abroad. That extraterritorial crackdown has alarmed international human rights advocates.
Then, too, the Saudi government has jailed many intellectuals, activists, and clerics who dare question the government’s policies or the royal family’s practices. They are frequently subjected to torture, sham trials, and harsh prison sentences. In 2020, Saudi Arabia sentenced 10 people to prison for peaceful expressions of dissent, including Mohammed al-Qahtani, a top human rights activist.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia put 81 people to death on a single day in what was the biggest mass execution in the kingdom’s history. The people executed were largely convicted on terrorism-related charges, but human rights groups have argued that the executions were politically motivated. Many of those executed were denied fair trials, and there were reports of torture to extract confessions, according to Amnesty International.
The Role of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC)
Another worrisome dimension to the extradition of Al-Qaradawi comes through the participation of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC), a council of ministers from across the Arab states, most notably and predominantly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This council has been condemned for issuing arrest warrants and “terrorist” designations using political, not legal, criteria. Al-Qaradawi’s case demonstrates how political dissent becomes criminalized in such systems, with governments intent on silencing dissent pursuing activists and critics across borders.
- AIMC is often used by the regional powers to target and silence political dissent. This body issues arrest warrants on vague, politically motivated charges, allowing persecution of critics to cross borders.
- Al-Qaradawi’s extradition is a further illustration of this trend, as he had not committed a crime but commented along political lines — a right preserved by international law.
Stand with Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi: Take Action for Human Rights
The case of Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi shows how repression continues in the Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. We cannot remain silent. Publicize Abdurrahman’s story, and others similar to his, to add to global pressure for their release and fair treatment. Be in coalition with the organizations advocating for free expression and justice in authoritarian regimes. Demand your government play the long game, putting diplomatic, trade, and economic pressure on repressive regimes.