Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia’s government has received assurances that Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad, transferred from Indonesia to Cyprus, will not be handed over to Israel, Immigration Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday.
The statement followed public concern over Miqdad’s transfer to Cyprus last Friday.
Cypriot assurance
According to Voice of Indonesia, Yusril spoke after Cyprus’ ambassador to Indonesia, Nikos Panayiotou, was summoned over the case.
“I am asking the Cypriot government to commit to not doing so. He has given a pledge that they do not intend to hand the person in question over to Israel,” Yusril said at the presidential palace complex in Jakarta.
Interpol process
Miqdad was transferred to Cyprus under an Interpol red notice issued through the Republic, with Cypriot and Indonesian police reportedly communicating on the matter since May 21.
Yusril said countries acting on Interpol requests were bound by Interpol rules and that a person transferred under those procedures could not be sent to a third country.
Indonesia proceeded with the transfer because it has no extradition treaty with Cyprus and the case was handled through the Interpol process, he said.
Case details
Yusril rejected reports describing Miqdad as a Palestinian scientist and humanitarian activist in Gaza, saying he was a 41-year-old “ordinary man.”
He said Miqdad had lived in Indonesia for three years and that Indonesian authorities had not identified humanitarian activities he had undertaken in Gaza during that period.
Yusril did not disclose the alleged offences, saying prosecution matters were under the authority of Cypriot authorities. He said the case involved suspected transnational organised crime.
