Egyptian activist al-Qaradawi’s family appeal to Lebanese PM for release

The family of Egyptian opposition activist Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi has called on Lebanese authorities to immediately release him, as fears grow that he will be deported to Egypt, where he is wanted by the law. Al-Qaradawi’s family members issued a press release on Sunday saying that they had sent a letter to Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati asking him to intervene in the case of the Egyptian poet and writer, who is also a Turkish citizen and lives with his family in Istanbul. “Lebanon has always been a symbol of the defence of freedoms, and we appeal to the Lebanese prime minister, in the name of justice and humanity, to intervene immediately to release him and ensure his safe return to his family and three daughters who are waiting for him in Istanbul.” Al-Qaradawi, the son of the late spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Yusuf al-Qaradawi, was arrested on December 28 due to an Egyptian arrest warrant, a Lebanese judicial official quoted by the AFP news agency and the family said. “His extradition to any country that demands him endangers his life, especially considering the record of human rights violations in those countries,” the press release issued on behalf of al-Qaradawi’s family said.