JAKARTA: Indonesia has clarified that the arrest and deportation of Palestinian citizen Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad was based on a valid International Police (Interpol) Red Notice at the request of the Cypriot authorities.
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the clarification was made following allegations that were increasingly being made by the public that Miqdad was a Palestinian cleric or humanitarian activist, thus prompting the government to confirm his identity and background with the Palestinian Embassy in Jakarta.
“Based on the available data and documents, Abdul Karim, 41, is a businessman, not a Palestinian activist or Islamic preacher,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency late Wednesday.
Yusril said Miqdad, who was arrested in Tangerang, Banten on July 16 and deported to Cyprus the next day, would be brought to court in that country to face terrorism charges brought by Cypriot authorities. He added that Indonesia would seek assurances that Miqdad would not be extradited to a third country.
He said there was no evidence to show Miqdad was involved in humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip as is widely believed.
According to Yusril, Miqdad has been living in Indonesia for the past three years, is married and has children, as well as frequently travelling abroad.
— BERNAMA
