CONTROVERSIA
Portrait of Mohamed ElBaradei

Photo: IAEA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in Egypt · Nationality Egyptian — Politics / institutions / non-proliferation

Mohamed ElBaradei

Politics and government

Documented profile covering 7 controversies, including “Iraq and nuclear weapons: confrontation with Washington before the 2003 invasion” and “Iran: IAEA's cautious approach and criticism of his refusal to declare a nuclear weapons programme”.

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Profile No. 0603 · Updated on 12 October 2026

Portrait of Mohamed ElBaradei

Photo: IAEA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
7Documented controversies+ 1 background event
13Sources
0Formal charge · all time
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

01

2017-2020

Passport and citizenship: demands for revocation and controversy over renewal abroad

Protagonist is the victim

Protagonist is the victim — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Following the 2017 campaigns calling for his citizenship to be revoked, ElBaradei stated in 2019 that his passport renewal application submitted from abroad remained unanswered, prompting renewed controversy over the use of travel documents against opponents.

State of the evidence
Documented
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist is the victim

Sources · 3

  1. [1]
    Ahram OnlineEgypt MP demands Mohamed ElBaradei's citizenship be revokedMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Al Jazeera Arabicجواز سفر البرادعي يثير جدلا على تويترMediaHigh reliability
  3. [3]
    Al Jazeera Arabicسلاح جواز السفر.. هكذا يطارد النظام المصري المعارضين بالخارجMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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02

2016-2017

Broadcast of private conversations in 2017: political campaign, treason allegations and presenter's conviction

Protagonist is the victim

Protagonist is the victim — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

Recordings presented as private conversations between ElBaradei and officials and associates were broadcast on television by Ahmed Moussa. The extracts fuelled a campaign accusing him of treason and formed the basis for political demands to revoke his nationality.

State of the evidence
Reported by the press
Role of the person profiled
Protagonist is the victim

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Ahram OnlineEgypt MP demands Mohamed ElBaradei's citizenship be revokedMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Ahram OnlineTV host Ahmed Moussa receives suspended jail term for airing private call by ElBaradeiMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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03

2013

Support for military intervention that removed Mohamed Morsi

No legal proceedings

ElBaradei, leading an opposition coalition, participated in discussions with the military and supported the roadmap that led to Morsi's removal following the mass demonstrations of June 2013.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    The GuardianEgypt awaits military statement as deadline passesMediaHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The New YorkerThe ShowdownMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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04

2013

Complaint for "betrayal of trust" following his resignation, dismissed by the court

Case dismissed / dropped

A law professor brought proceedings against ElBaradei, claiming that his resignation amounted to a betrayal of the trust attached to his office.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    ReutersJudge dismisses 'betrayal of trust' case against ElBaradeiMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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05

2010-2011

Opposition to Mubarak: international figure accused by the regime of being out of touch and foreign-backed

No legal proceedings

On returning to Egypt, ElBaradei became a central figure in democratic reform and a possible presidential candidate, prompting a smear campaign by media outlets and officials close to the regime.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    The New YorkerThe ContendersMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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06

2005-2009

Iran: IAEA's cautious approach and criticism of his refusal to declare a nuclear weapons programme

No legal proceedings

During the Iranian nuclear dispute, ElBaradei advocated verification and negotiation and faced criticism, notably over the IAEA's refusal to declare the existence of an ongoing nuclear weapons programme without sufficient evidence.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    IAEALooking to the FutureOfficial documentHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    IAEAIAEA and Iran: Chronology of Key EventsOfficial documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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07

2002-2003

Iraq and nuclear weapons: confrontation with Washington before the 2003 invasion

No legal proceedings

As head of the IAEA, ElBaradei challenged key evidence advanced to support the existence of a renewed Iraqi nuclear programme. In March 2003, he told the Security Council that documents concerning a uranium purchase from Niger were not authentic and that the IAEA had found no plausible indication of the resumption of the prohibited nuclear programme.

State of the evidence
Documented
Legal status — source text
Not applicable
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    IAEAThe Status of Nuclear Inspections in Iraq: An UpdateOfficial documentHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    IAEAAnnual Report 2003Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 19 August 2026

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II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

  1. 2013

    Interim vice-presidency followed by resignation after deadly dispersal at Rabaa and Nahda

    ElBaradei accepted the vice-presidency in the government installed after Morsi's removal but resigned on the day security forces dispersed the Rabaa and Nahda sit-ins, resulting in a massive loss of life.

    Sources · 1
    1. Reuters — ElBaradei quits Egypt government, other liberals stay

III. Constellation of documented links

  • Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
  • Line width: number of documented references
  • Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)
  1. Ahmed Moussa2 documented references
  2. Mohamed Morsi1 documented reference

IV. Has something changed?

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