UAE President Pardons Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi
2 sources across 2 countries · Israel · Qatar · 1 of them is linked to a state
Who reported this
- The Times of Israel
- Al Jazeera
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a pardon for Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi, the son of the late influential Sunni scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi, had been sentenced by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal’s Cybercrime Division on August 27 to 10 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dirhams. He was also accused of engaging in activities that undermine public security.
Al-Qaradawi was arrested in Lebanon in December 2024 and extradited to the UAE in January 2025. His arrest followed a warrant issued by the Arab Interior Ministers Council. While the UAE state news agency WAM reported that procedures to implement the pardon have been taken, it remains unclear if he has been released.
Reporting on the event differs based on political framing. A center leaning source identifies al-Qaradawi as the son of the Muslim Brotherhood’s late spiritual leader. A center-left leaning source frames him as an Egyptian dissident, poet, and activist, noting that UN experts and rights groups viewed his arrest as a violation of free speech.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The event is framed as the pardon of a political dissident and poet who was targeted for exercising free speech.
- Centre
- The event is framed around the subject's connection to the Muslim Brotherhood and threats to public security.
Sources
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