UAE President pardons Abdul Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi following cybercrime conviction
The pardon follows an August 27 conviction that brought a 10-year sentence and a AED 200,000 fine, state media said.
- On Friday, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan granted a presidential pardon to Egyptian poet and activist Abdul Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi, state news agency WAM reported.
- The clemency follows an August 27 ruling by the Cybercrime Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, which sentenced Al-Qaradawi to 10 years in prison and imposed an AED 200,000 fine.
- Lebanese authorities detained Al-Qaradawi in December 2024 at the Masnaa border crossing, acting on an Arab Interior Ministers Council notice; he was extradited to the UAE in January 2025.
- United Nations human rights experts previously raised alarms over Al-Qaradawi's detention, noting he remained 'forcibly disappeared' for months without charge or indictment following his extradition.
- Critics argue the AIMC extradition process 'is being abused by some states to silence criticism,' with experts noting the mechanism is used to pursue activists beyond their borders.
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UAE President pardons Abdul Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi following cybercrime conviction
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted a presidential pardon to convict Abdul Rahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi, state news agency WAM reported on Friday. The executive clemency follows an August 27 ruling by the Cybercrime Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, which sentenced the 53-year-old to 10 years in prison …
The President of the United Arab Emirates pardoned Abd al-Rahman al-Durdawi, days after being sentenced to 10 years ' imprisonment by the Electronic Crimes Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeal.
Presidential Pardon Issued for Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
ABU DHABI: A pardon by His Highness the UAE President was issued today, Friday, 4th September 2026, for Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who was convicted by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on 27th August 2026, of the offences with which he was charged and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and a fine of AED200,000.The necessary procedures have been taken to implement the presidential pardon.
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