Sun Jan 05 18:42:30 UTC 2025: ## Family Pleads for Release of Egyptian Activist Detained in Lebanon
**Beirut, Lebanon** – The family of Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian opposition activist and Turkish citizen, is urgently appealing to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati for his intervention to prevent al-Qaradawi’s deportation to Egypt. Al-Qaradawi, 53, was arrested on December 28th at the Masnaa border crossing after entering Lebanon from Syria, based on an Egyptian arrest warrant.
Al-Qaradawi, son of the late Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi, faces a five-year prison sentence in absentia in Egypt on charges of “opposing the state and inciting terrorism,” stemming from a 2012 article. His family fears for his life if he is extradited, citing Egypt’s human rights record and concerns of torture. His lawyer, Mohammed Sablouh, echoed these concerns.
In a press release issued Sunday, the family expressed confidence in the Lebanese leadership and appealed to Prime Minister Mikati to secure al-Qaradawi’s release and safe return to his family in Istanbul. They highlighted Lebanon’s historical defense of freedoms and urged intervention on grounds of justice and humanity.
Al-Qaradawi, a long-time opponent of both former President Hosni Mubarak and current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has been a vocal critic of the Egyptian government. His family’s plea is part of a broader campaign advocating for his release and return to Turkey. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between Egypt and its political opponents living abroad.
First Piper 