Nicosia, Cyprus. A Palestinian national arrested in Indonesia on an Interpol notice issued through Cyprus has been transferred to the Republic, according to the Geneva Council for Rights and Liberties.
Arrest and transfer
The non-governmental organisation said Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad was arrested in Indonesia on Thursday and deported to Cyprus the following morning, despite an arrest warrant that allowed for detention of up to two weeks.
According to the organisation, the Interpol Red Notice was issued through the Interpol National Central Bureau in Nicosia.
Indonesian authorities cited a risk of flight, possible concealment of evidence and anti-terrorism legislation as grounds for the arrest.
Rights concerns
The Geneva Council said documents it reviewed did not specify the acts attributed to Miqdad, include supporting evidence or clearly describe the allegations against him.
It said an Interpol Red Notice does not exempt states from obligations under international human rights law.
The organisation said it feared Miqdad’s transfer to Cyprus could precede an extradition request from Israel. According to the group, his family considers the case politically motivated because of his public advocacy for Palestinian rights and opposition to the war in Gaza.
Call for judicial review
The group called on Cypriot authorities not to begin any extradition procedure until an independent judicial review has been completed.
The transfer comes days after police announced the extradition from abroad of a fourth suspect in an ongoing terrorism investigation in Larnaca.
