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Indonesian Police Deny Arresting Palestinian Activist, Confirm Deporting Cypriot Fugitive
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Indonesian Police Deny Arresting Palestinian Activist, Confirm Deporting Cypriot Fugitive

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesian police deny arresting a Palestinian activist, stating the detained foreigner was a Cypriot fugitive.
  • The individual, identified as Abdul Karim, was arrested for terrorism offenses and deported to Cyprus.
  • Police clarified the arrest followed Interpol procedures and refuted claims of transfer to other nations.

Indonesian police have refuted claims circulating on social media that they arrested a Palestinian activist. The National Police's International Relations Division stated that the foreigner apprehended was a Cypriot fugitive named Abdul Karim, who was subsequently deported to Cyprus.

Brig. Gen. Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol Indonesia, clarified that Abdul Karim was designated a fugitive by NCB Interpol Nicosia and is considered a perpetrator of terrorism. "The individual is an Interpol Red Notice subject from NCB Interpol Nicosia; he is not an activist but a perpetrator of terrorism," Widyatmoko stated via text message on Monday.

The individual is an Interpol Red Notice subject from NCB Interpol Nicosia; he is not an activist but a perpetrator of terrorism.

— Brig. Gen. Untung WidyatmokoSecretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol Indonesia, clarifying the identity and status of the detained foreigner.

Widyatmoko emphasized that the arrest and deportation adhered to Interpol's cooperation procedures. He specifically denied reports suggesting Abdul Karim would be transferred to any country other than Cyprus. "We work according to procedures and mechanisms. It was not sudden, but based on intelligence analysis we received, and the statement that he would be transferred to another country besides Cyprus is completely untrue," he asserted.

Abdul Karim was arrested in Indonesia on Thursday, July 16, and deported the following day, July 17. Police reported he possessed three passports, one of which was Palestinian. Investigations revealed that two other passports, purportedly from European countries, were suspected to be fake, possibly originating from stolen travel documents. This action follows earlier reports, citing Al Jazeera, that alleged Indonesia deported a Palestinian activist, raising concerns about extradition to Israel.

We work according to procedures and mechanisms. It was not sudden, but based on intelligence analysis we received, and the statement that he would be transferred to another country besides Cyprus is completely untrue.

— Brig. Gen. Untung WidyatmokoResponding to claims that the deportation process was irregular or involved other destinations.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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