Brian Vitagliano

Donald Trump does not support the 2nd Amendment.

🔴 Freedom for Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi For over 90 days, renowned poet and democracy advocate Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has been subjected to enforced disappearance in the United Arab Emirates, after being forcibly extradited from Lebanon on January 8, 2025. 📣 More than 30 human rights organizations have signed a joint letter demanding: Immediate disclosure of his whereabouts, health, and legal status Access to his family and international legal team Consular visits from the Turkish Embassy (he holds Turkish citizenship) A fair and transparent legal process – or his immediate and unconditional release We call on @FCDOGovUK, @DavidLammy, and @kajakallas to urgently press the #UAE to release him now. 📢 Poetry is not a crime. Silencing voices will not stop the call for freedom. 📄 Read the full joint statement: Urgent Appeal for the Immediate Release of Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi To: Right Honourable David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary Her Excellency Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union Dear Esteemed Officials, We, the undersigned organizations, write to express our deep concern and call for your urgent intervention regarding the ongoing detention of renowned poet and democratic advocate Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who was forcibly extradited and has been in enforced disappearance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since January 8, 2025. For over 90 days, Abdulrahman has been subjected to enforced disappearance, prompting a statement from United Nations human rights experts on March 5, 2025, calling on the UAE to disclose his whereabouts. The experts warned that "our worst fears that Mr. Al-Qaradawi would face grave human rights violations if he was extradited to the UAE appear to have been justified," recalling their prior appeal urging Lebanon not to comply with the extradition request. Abdulrahman’s case involves transnational repression, where states collaborate to silence dissent beyond their borders. This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader issue affecting human rights defenders, activists, and writers in the region. On December 28, 2024, Lebanese security forces arrested Abdulrahman following an extradition request from the UAE, citing charges of "spreading false information, disturbing public security, and inciting unrest." These allegations stem from a video he posted online while in Syria, where he expressed critical views of Egyptian, Emirati, and Saudi authorities. His lawyer in Lebanon reviewed the request, but following the Lebanese government's decision to extradite him to the UAE, Abdulrahman was denied the opportunity to defend himself and challenge the decision. On January 8, 2025, he was transferred by private jet to the UAE, where he was immediately detained and forcibly disappeared. His location remains undisclosed, and he has been deprived of regular access to his family. On February 20, Abdulrahman was allowed to place a one-minute phone call to his family. A government-appointed lawyer, whom he did not choose, has been assigned to his case, while his international legal representatives have been unable to communicate with him. The extradition and detention of Abdulrahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi violate international human rights protections, including the ICCPR (freedom of expression and protection from arbitrary detention), and the CAT (prohibition of extradition to countries where torture is a risk). The UAE’s actions blatantly disregard its pledges and commitments. Despite the lack of transparency and clarity regarding his detention conditions and whereabouts, the UAE is now reportedly initiating legal proceedings for spreading rumours and cyber crimes.  However, no official charges have been presented, and there are no guarantees of due process or a fair trial. The UAE’s deepening trade and diplomatic ties with the UK and EU — whether through the UK-UAE Sovereign Investment Partnership or the EU-UAE Cooperation Agreement —carry with them a responsibility to uphold fundamental values. These partnerships are not solely economic in nature; they reflect shared commitments to justice, transparency, and human rights. Silence, in this case, risks signaling that these principles are secondary to strategic interests, setting a troubling precedent that could embolden further transnational repression. When individuals can be forcibly disappeared and subjected to arbitrary detention and deprived of fair trial guarantees without consequence, the integrity of international human rights protections is called into question. Urgent diplomatic action is needed to ensure Abdulrahman’s fundamental rights are upheld and that he is safely reunited with his family. Given the seriousness of this case, we respectfully urge your immediate intervention to: Demand the disclosure of  Abdulrahman’s whereabouts, conditions of detention, well-being and legal status. Ensure access to legal representation by facilitating regular communication between Abdulrahman and his chosen international legal counsel and family. Seek assurances of his well-being, including regular consular visits from the Turkish embassy, as he holds Turkish citizenship. Guarantee due process by ensuring transparency in legal proceedings, fair trial protections, and the right of all relevant parties to testify. Call for his immediate and unconditional release so he may return safely to Turkey, where he resides with his daughters. We urge you to utilise diplomatic actions and every available mechanism, public and private pressure, trade and diplomatic leverage, and coordination with international partners to secure Abdulrahman’s immediate release. Your support in this matter will reaffirm a commitment to justice and the rule of law, and it will determine whether transnational repression is confronted or allowed to spread unchecked. Signatories: @EgyptWide @egyptian_front @EuroMedRights @Legal_Agenda @EIPR @EgyptianHRForum @ESOHumanRights @omctorg @TimepDC @AITAS2004 @GulfCentre4HR @MideastDC @EDAC_EN @MENA_Rights @rpegyorg @fairsqprojects @amnesty @pen_int @hrw @HuMENAorg Access Center for Human Rights (ACHR) Arab Center for Law and Society Studies (ACLSS) Cedar Centre for Legal Studies (CCLS) Democratic Diwan Egyptian Coordination of Rights and Freedoms Egyptian Front for Human Rights Law and Democracy Support Foundation (LDSF) | Najda for Human Rights Palestinian Jurists Association People in Need (PIN) REDWORD for Human Rights & Freedom of Expression Sinai Foundation for Human Rights Unity For Democracy (UFD). The Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession (ACIJLP) #FreeAbdulrahman #WhereIsAbdulrahman #StopTransnationalRepression #PoetryIsNotACrime

Under Armour founder Kevin Plank is returning as CEO, the company announced last night. @BrianSozzi gives insight behind the move and Wall Street's reaction to the controversial founder taking back the helm:

👇👇👇👇👇👇👇

.@WomensNetNBCU #HerStory Media Spotlight: Jill Billante, @NBCNewsNow Exec Producer! "Be your own best advocate. Anyone beginning their career might feel intimidated to speak up or admit they need help, but there's real power in sharing your ideas and asking for what you need."

The public (incl. journalists) have never been allowed into the courtroom for R. Kelly’s trial. I wrote about how we have been trying to follow the proceedings on flat screen TVs with grainy security camera video of the trial from two floors away. cnn.com/2021/09/26/us/…

R. Kelly’s federal trial begins in Brooklyn today. For some accusers, it is a second chance at justice. cnn.com/2021/08/18/us/…

Some professional news: I’ve been promoted to reporter at CNN! I first worked with CNN in college as a “student correspondent” in 2004 and went through my reporting career always dreaming of coming back. I came back as a producer in 2014 and am thrilled to be reporting again!

Correct answer = NOTHING @Simone_Biles ❤️

She already won. That part. #SimoneBiles

On this day in 2015, Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead concluded at @SoldierField in Chicago.❤️💀 Photo by @jayblakesberg.

El Chapo's wife pleads guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. cnn.com/2021/06/10/us/… @soniamoghe @MariaSantanaCNN

Jurors have reached a verdict in Derek Chauvin's trial over the death of George Floyd. It's expected to be announced shortly. cnn.it/3sGWYSQ

The @NYSComptroller sent @NewYorkStateAG a referral on April 13 asking her office to investigate “indictable” offenses related to the “use of property, services or resources of the state” for Gov. Cuomo’s book “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

New York lawmakers promise a wide-ranging and lengthy impeachment investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo cnn.it/3cTAaJm

Cy Vance’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election as @ManhattanDA puts the spotlight on who will be elected to take over the investigation into former President Trump and his business. Our story: cnn.com/2021/03/12/pol…

Exclusive: @NYCBarAssn is urging a state Attorney Grievance Committee, which can recommend disbarring attorneys, to investigate complaints against Rudy Giuliani for allegedly violating rules of professional conduct for attorneys. cnn.com/2021/03/02/pol…

Donald Trump Jr. was deposed as part of the Washington, DC, attorney general's lawsuit alleging the misuse of Trump inaugural funds, per @soniamoghe cnn.com/2021/02/24/pol…

LEGALIZED IT

Sen. Ted Cruz and his family flew to Cancun, Mexico, as a winter disaster in Texas left millions without power or water cnn.it/3awF2EA