Doha won't extradite Qaradawi to Egyptian authorities: Qatari FM

CAIRO – 28 September 2018: Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said in statements Thursday his government will not extradite wanted Egyptian Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi to the authorities.

He added that the Qatari government considers Qaradawi as a Qatari citizen, so they will not hand him over to the Egyptian authorities, as they won’t withdraw from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well.

Furthermore, Abdulrahman claimed his government was never a Muslim Brotherhood supporter, and their decision regarding refusing to extradite Qaradawi is a result of their treating him as an Egyptian opposition to the current regime, not as a Muslim Brotherhood member.

He also said that many other countries are hosting the now-banned group members, not just Doha.

Qaradawi is a controversial figure in the Arab world and is accused by many of his opponents of spreading hate and intolerance through his fatwas (religious edicts). He also was put on the terrorism watch list after being accused of escaping Wadi El Natrun Prison. He gave up his Egyptian citizenship, after inciting violence against Egypt and joining a terrorist organization. He is banned from entering the U.S., the U.K. and France.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, hurling allegations that the state supports terrorism. Ports and airspace were cut off to Qatari vessels.

On June 6, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Ahmad Al-Sabah started a tour that included Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in an attempt to mediate between the three countries.
A list of 13 demands was given to Doha’s government by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain for reconciliation, which includes the closing of Al Jazeera broadcasting; however, Qatar’s response was described as “negative” by the four countries’ foreign ministers in a joint statement released after holding a summit in Cairo July 5.