Yusril Assures Cyprus Not to Hand Over Abdul Karim Miqdad to Israel

Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra ensures that the Cyprus government will not hand over Palestinian Abdul Karim Miqdad to Israel.

Yusril conveyed this certainty after summoning the Ambassador of Cyprus to Indonesia on Wednesday, July 22. The summons was made following public uproar after Miqdad was deported from Indonesia to Cyprus on July 17.

"I ask for the commitment of the Cypriot government not to do that. He has conveyed a commitment that the Cypriot government does not intend to hand over the person concerned to Israel," said Yusril at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta.

According to Yusril, Miqdad was handed over to Cyprus at the request of Interpol, which had issued a red notice. Communication between the Cyprus police and Indonesia has been ongoing since May 21, 2026.

Yusril said that the country that requests someone based on a red notice is bound by the Interpol Statute. The person who is handed over must not be transferred to a third country.

He also denied the news that Miqdad was a Palestinian scholar and humanitarian activist in Gaza.

"He is not a cleric, just an ordinary person and he is 41 years old," he said.

According to Yusril, Miqdad has lived in Indonesia for three years. The government also did not detect any humanitarian activities carried out by Miqdad in Gaza during that period.

Yusril explained that Indonesia chose deportation because it did not have an extradition agreement with Cyprus. The process was carried out based on an Interpol request.

He did not explain the alleged crime of Miqdad because prosecution is the authority of the government of Cyprus. However, Yusril said the case was related to alleged organized transnational crime.

Yusril emphasized that the deportation was not related to Indonesia's attitude towards Palestine.

"This is a case of individuals who are suspected of committing crimes in other countries. It has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting Palestinian independence," he said.

Yusril is also scheduled to explain the case to the Indonesian Ulema Council and Islamic community organizations who questioned Miqdad's deportation.