TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Secretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia, Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, emphasized that the deportation of Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad to Cyprus was carried out in accordance with legal procedures. According to him, the deportation was not linked to any humanitarian activities, support for Palestine, or his religious identity.
"The individual was pursued based on his immigration crossing data upon entering Indonesia. So, it is a big mistake to say that we did something non-procedural," said Untung when contacted on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Interpol Nicosia, according to Untung, had issued a red notice against Abdul Karim on June 10, 2026, under a terrorism charge in Cyprus. Subsequently, authorities detected Abdul Karim entering Indonesian territory from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to Untung, Interpol would not issue a red notice if the case involves political, religion, human rights, military, or racial matters. This is outlined in Article 3 of the Interpol Constitution, which serves as the pillar of the organization's neutral character.
Red notices, he went on, are only issued for ordinary criminal offenses, following stringent verification stages. Thus, Interpol only issues red notices after all procedures are satisfied.
Additionally, he mentioned that the Ministry of Law of Cyprus had issued an official notice since May 2026 following the incident in Nicosia. "The network of his role is clear, as he is the perpetrator," he stated.
Untung stated that Interpol Indonesia deported Abdul Karim as a preventive measure to mitigate terrorism threats in the country. He mentioned that the authorities also conducted the entire legal process in accordance with procedures, using official arrest documents based on the suspect's extradition from the Cyprus Police. "So, which procedure did we violate?" he remarked.
The Geneva Council for Rights & Liberties report stated that the authorities arrested Abdul Karim in Indonesia on July 16, 2026. The following day, they deported him to Cyprus. On Saturday morning, Abdul Karim was reported to have safely arrived in Cyprus.
Jihan Ristiyanti and Hammam Izzuddin contributed to the writing of this article
Read: Indonesia Deports Palestinian Wanted by Interpol to Cyprus
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