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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesian Interpol: Palestinian Deportation to Cyprus Followed Legal Procedures

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesian Interpol confirmed the deportation of Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad to Cyprus followed legal procedures.
  • The deportation was based on a red notice issued by Interpol Nicosia for alleged terrorism offenses in Cyprus, not for humanitarian or religious reasons.
  • Indonesian Interpol stated the red notice was issued after strict verification, adhering to Interpol's constitution which prohibits involvement in political or religious matters.

Indonesian Interpol has clarified the deportation of Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad to Cyprus, asserting it adhered strictly to legal procedures. Brig. Gen. Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of the NCB Interpol Indonesia, stated that the actions taken against Miqdad were not linked to humanitarian activities, support for Palestine, or his religious identity.

The individual was pursued because immigration records show he entered Indonesia. So, if you say we did something non-procedural, that's completely wrong.

— Untung WidyatmokoIndonesian Interpol secretary explaining the basis for the deportation.

"The individual was pursued because immigration records show he entered Indonesia. So, if you say we did something non-procedural, that's completely wrong," Widyatmoko said. He explained that Interpol Nicosia issued a red notice against Miqdad on June 10, 2026, for alleged terrorism offenses in Cyprus. Authorities detected Miqdad entering Indonesia from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Interpol will not issue a red notice if the case involving the subject is related to politics, religion, human rights, military, or race. This provision is regulated in Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution, which is the pillar of the organization's neutrality. Therefore, red notices are only used for general criminal acts.

— Untung WidyatmokoExplaining Interpol's strict policy on issuing red notices.

Widyatmoko emphasized that Interpol does not issue red notices for cases involving politics, religion, human rights, military matters, or race, as stipulated by Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution, which upholds the organization's neutrality. Red notices are exclusively for general criminal offenses. He further noted that the issuance of a red notice involves a rigorous verification process, ensuring all procedures are met before it is released.

The network's role was clear, the person concerned was the perpetrator.

— Untung WidyatmokoDescribing the alleged involvement of the deported individual.

The Ministry of Justice in Cyprus had also issued an official letter in May 2026 following events in Nicosia, identifying Miqdad as a perpetrator involved in a network. Indonesian Interpol deported Miqdad as a preemptive measure against potential terrorism threats within the country, following all legal processes with official arrest documents based on charges from Cyprus Police. The Geneva Council for Rights & Liberties reported Miqdad's arrest in Indonesia on July 16, 2026, followed by his deportation to Cyprus the next day, where he reportedly arrived safely.

So, which one did we violate?

— Untung WidyatmokoChallenging accusations of procedural violations during the deportation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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