ABU DHABI, 28 October — The United Arab Emirates said yesterday that Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradawi was turned back from Abu Dhabi airport on Friday without the knowledge of the country’s authorities. "It was an unacceptable individual mistake," said an official UAE source.
However, the source regretted Qaradawi’s statement after returning to Doha as the renowned Islamic scholar was quoted as saying by newspapers that the emirate was acting on the directives of the United States. "The UAE authorities were surprised to see the report in certain newspapers that Sheikh Qaradawi had been turned back from Abu Dhabi," the source said. The source said the authorities were investigating the action of the individuals involved in the incident. He said Sheikh Qaradawi has a special position among UAE officials who hold him in high esteem.
