With reporting from Lesley Walker and Riham Sheble
Prominent Doha-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al Qaradawi has said that he is “stunned” by a new warrant for his arrest that was issued by Interpol, seeking to hold him accountable for offenses committed in Egypt years ago.
On Friday, Interpol published a notice on behalf on Egyptian authorities accusing the 88-year-old Al Qaradawi of having a hand in a mass jail break during the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, among other crimes.
In a telephone conversation with the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated TV channel Rab’a this week, the Egyptian-born Al Qaradawi responded to the charges by ridiculing his accusers:
“I don’t know what standards Interpol applies (to its work) … How could I have participated in opening up the prisons and freeing prisoners while living in Qatar? I carry a Qatari passport and use it solely for travel. Have I left Qatar during that period? Have I been to Egypt during that period? They can check and find out that I have not. Or maybe I flew invisibly in the sky.”
Al Qaradawi has been a fierce critic of Egypt’s military government, and has also lashed out at Saudi Arabia and the UAE for supporting the regime.
His heated rhetoric – which has included calling on Saudis “to stand with the Egyptian people against the murders and executioners” – has been an additional irritant in the already frayed relationship between Qatar and Egypt.
Heated history
Qatar was a prominent supporter of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood-backed government prior to its 2013 ouster and has since voiced concern over Cairo’s crackdown on supporters of the political organization.
Egypt, in response, summoned Qatar’s ambassador to deliver a diplomatic rebuke.
Egypt has demanded for months that Qatar turn over Al Qaradawi and has also called on Interpol to issue arrest warrants for Muslim Brotherhood members living in Qatar.
It’s not clear what prompted Interpol to issue a so-called “Red Notice,” which is used when the organization is seeking the location and arrest of a wanted individual with the goal of extraditing them to face charges.
As some pointed out on social media, Qaradawi’s whereabouts are well-known:
Interpol issues alert for Egyptian cleric al-Qaradawi Anadolu Agency.
Qaradawi wanted by Egypt. Hint: He's in Qatar. http://t.co/donTxkZWrt— Ziad Asali MD (@ZiadAsali) December 7, 2014
It appears unlikely that the Interpol warrant would have any practical impact unless Al Qaradawi chooses to leave Qatar or the government has a sudden change of attitude towards the cleric, who has lived in the country for decades and is often photographed in the company of the Emir and Father Emir.
Qatar has so far ignored Egypt’s call to deport Al Qaradawi and one legal organization, Fair Trials International, says Interpol member countries can choose not to act on the warrants.
Speaking to Doha News, Michael Stephens, the deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute Qatar, agreed, saying: “There’s lots of ways around this becoming a problem.”
He added that for example, even if authorities were to make a move on Al Qaradawi, extradition proceedings could be dragged out as supporters argue the octogenarian is too frail to be moved. (In his interview yesterday, Al Qaradawi said he suffered from “a number of ailments” and needed assistance to travel.)
Stephens also questioned whether Qatar would gain anything from acquiescing to Egyptian pressure:
“Qatari-Egyptian relations are so bad that it’s unlikely sorting out this mess would result in any significant improvement anyway.”
Thoughts?
” Egyptian authorities accusing the 88-year-old Al Qaradawi of having a hand in a mass jail break during the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, among other crimes.”
hosni mubarak on the other hand is found innocent…… what a joke
In between defending claims of fabricating evidence against Morsi, talking about releasing journalists, keeping an eye on Rafah to make sure no Palestinians escape and rebuilding social and government services, it has time for more!
The MB tried to hijack the democracy they had won. If not for greed they would still be in power.
Some truth in that, they tried to impose thier brand of Islam though the back door. Every country should be for all citizens and residents, regardless of colour, faith or creed.
LIke Qatar?
Ah that would be the dream for all humans to live on this planet free from oppression and equal rights, but as many countries show we are far from that
For all the embarrassment he went through, he certainly got a taste of justice. Making an ex dictator live the rest of his miserable life in shame is WAY worse than killing him. Him faking illness and acting like a girl during prosecution will make him be the joke of all jokes in history books.
…acting like a girl… That’s an insult to girls.
Seriously, what a derogatory expression.
He didn’t act like a girl, he acted like a coward.
Maybe an insult to lesbos. Acting like a tulip has never been an insult to girls, which is why no one expected/expects girls to fight wars and win battles in the present and throughout history. Some women pride themselves on being “women” 🙂
There is a BIG difference between cowardness and acting like a girl. So, quit manipulating my idea in order to look like a woman-hero.
Now go wash them dishes….
You seem to have missed the point totally.
What on earth have ‘tulips’ and ‘lesbos’ got to do with what I said?
Why on earth do you think ‘lesbos’ ( another derogatory term) would be offended but not heterosexual women?
Your comment was used in a derogatory manner. It belittles girls and women.
Accept your mistake and take it like a man. If you are one.
Don’t waste your time on him, he’s special
you shut your mouth when 2 people are arguing…
Sorry didn’t know you were arguing, just thought you were making a fool of yourself
Am I supposed to be insulted from a loser like yourself? get a life ugly…
I apologize If my comment offended you. Acting like a girl when you are a man is equivalent to acting like a guy when you’re a girl.. It’s life. Even animals have their gender-differences. It should not be an insult and I by no means meant being a girl = being a coward… maybe more emotional and sensitive after being 30+ years like an insensitive heartless rock was more what I meant.
On the other hand, “lesbo” is not degrading… it is an equivalence to being g*y, which is also not degrading. Lesbos behave like men just like g*ys behave like women.. Nothing degrading.. It’s just a term
yawn
What a joke; Mubarak, the man responsible for killing the protesters is found not guilty, while Qaradawi is somehow responsible for this jail break.
Qaradawi is a despicable man and has many crimes against humanity but this one is a joke. However he is in good company with Mubarak, Sisi and MB. All are oppressors of their fellow humans. Why Qatar gave him a passport and sanctuary I don’t know.
Are you serious!!!? Enlighten me with his “crimes against humanity”!
I consider inciting others to violence and promoting the beating of women among other things crimes against humanity. (This is in his own words and the books he has written)
Again, he called people to defend themselves and claim their freedom, and he did not promote beating women. Kindly, back your accusations!
Don’t worry, evidence is rarely considered or shown to support arguments here.
Here you go, he may not have promoted it here, but he was an apologist for it here……a nasty little man, for sure.
From this website, http://www.2muslims.com/directory/Detailed/226100.shtml#Rebelliousness%20and%20Strife
This website was a fascinating read for me, given the absolute obsession with control and domination over every aspect of life as directed by him and Islam, the catholics don’t even get close to these levels of insecurity……….I thoroughly recommend it for fellow rationalists, very entertaining and instructive.
http://www.2muslims.com/directory/Detailed/226100.shtml
To be specific, one may beat only
to safeguard Islamic behavior and if he (the husband) sees deviation only in
what she must do or obey in relation to him. It is preferable to warn (her), or
something of the sort, and as long as it is possible to achieve things through
warning, any use of force is disallowed because force generates hatred, which is
inimical to the harmony expected in marriage. Force is applied only when sin
against Allah Ta’ala (masiyah) is feared. Al-Nisai has reported ‘Aishah as
saying, ‘The Prophet (peace be on him) never beat any of his wives or servants;
in fact, he did not strike anything with his hand except in the cause of Allah
or when the prohibitions of Allah were violated, and he retaliated on behalf of
Allah.'(Fath al-Bari, vol. 9, p.
249.)
Why would they not? Same same. Qatar oppressors humans …Kafala, NOC, Restriction of freedom of movement, jailing raped woman for being pregnant out of wedlock, jailing labourers because their sponsor didn’t renew there resident permit, internet laws forbidding freedom of speech…etc etc…
Anyone paying attention to anything coming from Sissi’s government is just plain stupid.
The country is a big joke in itself. Just imagine Mubarak who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent protestors by his actions or inactions and for allowing his security forces to run riot and to beat, brutalize and murder his own people being set free. They could first provide justice to the families who lost their loved ones because of this tyrant and then go about trying to get hold of the others whose crimes pale in comparison to their leader of thirty years
Irrespective of what this guy is accused of doing or not doing, the erratic brand of justice that exists in Egypt – imprisoning journalists and the mass sentencing of hundreds to death whilst freeing a person behind the murder of countless – means anything the current regime does lacks even a shred of credibility. Interpol damaged its reputation by having anything to do with them.
Trolls gonna trolls behind their fake names and little insecurity and little computers!
little computers?
All Egypt leaders were clowns. Used by america n zionist bullies.