Abu Dhabi, Sept. 5 -- Egyptian opposition activist and poet Abdul Rahman al-Qaradawi has been pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, days after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined dirham 200,000 (USD 54,450) on cybercrime-related charges.

The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Friday, September 4, that the necessary procedures had been taken to implement the presidential pardon. It was not immediately clear whether al-Qaradawi had been released.

Al-Qaradawi was convicted by the Cybercrime Division of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on August 27 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was also fined dirham 200,000 (USD 54,450).

He was arrested in Lebanon in December 2024 and extradited to th...