Lebanon has arrested Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, son of the late Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, based on an Egyptian warrant. He faces five years in prison for allegedly opposing the state and inciting terrorism. As Lebanese officials consider extradition, the situation reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the Muslim Brotherhood’s status in Egypt.
Lebanese officials have apprehended Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian opposition figure and the son of the deceased spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. Al-Qaradawi was detained at the Masnaa border crossing as he returned from Syria, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Egyptian authorities. The warrant, based on a ruling by an Egyptian court, sentenced him to five years in absentia for allegedly inciting terrorism and opposing the state.
His father, Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, was a renowned Sunni cleric who had been imprisoned multiple times for his association with the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been declared a terrorist organization in Egypt since 2013. Following his father’s death in 2022, Al-Qaradawi became a significant political figure, opposing both former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak and the current government led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Lebanon’s judiciary will review the case to determine whether the legal conditions warrant extradition to Egypt, which will involve coordinating with Egyptian authorities to evaluate the necessary documentation. Al-Qaradawi is also noted to hold Turkish citizenship and had recently returned from visiting Syria, where he expressed support through social media for the recent fall of Bashar Assad’s regime.
The arrest of Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi occurs within the broader context of Egypt’s ongoing campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood, which was designated a terrorist group following the political turmoil of 2013. This designation has led to the arrest and persecution of numerous members and sympathizers. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Al-Qaradawi’s father, was a significant religious figure with international influence, particularly in Sunni Islam, and his legacy continues to impact the political landscape in Egypt. Al-Qaradawi’s activities as a political organizer and his vocal opposition to El-Sisi’s regime have only further complicated his standing with Egyptian authorities. His recent social media activity, deemed provocative by local Egyptian outlets, has intensified calls for his extradition.
The detention of Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi signals the complicated interplay of regional politics, international asylum, and the ramifications of prior political affiliations. As Lebanese authorities deliberate on the extradition process, the case highlights the persistent tension surrounding the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the judiciary’s role in such political extradition matters, and Al-Qaradawi’s significant familial connections to a historically influential Islamic leadership.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
