Fate of Palestinians in Indonesia After Abdul Karim Miqdad's Deportation
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has received clarification from the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, regarding the deportation of Palestinian national Abdul Karim Miqdad to Cyprus. The MUI stressed that the most important thing is for Palestinian brothers and sisters in Indonesia to have peace of mind and not worry about being deported as happened to Miqdad.
The Chairman of the MUI for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Prof Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, said the current priority is ensuring Palestinians in Indonesia are calm, as they are worried. “The most important thing is that our Palestinian brothers and sisters who have been in Indonesia for varying lengths of time also find peace, because they are worried, thinking ‘after Miqdad, will it be me or someone else?’,” Sudarnoto told Republika after meeting Coordinating Minister Yusril at the Central MUI Office on Wednesday (22/7/2026) evening.
He said that with the presence and explanation provided by Coordinating Minister Yusril, Palestinians in Indonesia need not be anxious. “God willing, there is no need to worry because nothing will happen, God willing.”
Coordinating Minister Yusril was then asked how to ensure Palestinians in Indonesia do not face deportation as happened to Abdul Karim Miqdad. He replied that the possibility of an error occurring is actually very small, because Indonesia has frequently cooperated with police from various countries in carrying out deportations. Moreover, since the deportation was conducted through Interpol, it has gone through a multi-layered screening process.
“It is impossible for Interpol to issue a red notice if it does not comply with Interpol’s own constitution or statute, and we certainly cannot judge whether the person concerned (Miqdad) is guilty or not because the legal process is ongoing (in Cyprus),” said Coordinating Minister Yusril in the lobby of the Central MUI Office after the closed meeting on Wednesday (22/7) evening.
Yusril explained that one of the requirements for surrender through Interpol cooperation is that the person concerned has been investigated and interrogated, and their status has been determined as a suspect. If deported, they will be tried in their country and everyone will see what the court’s decision is.
“It is possible that the Cypriot police made a mistake in charging or concluding, so the court acquits them. I think that is a risk that could occur, but we will carry out processes like this with a high degree of caution, especially when it concerns our national interests. We will certainly not be careless in surrendering people, whether through extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance, or police-to-police cooperation,” he said.
When asked what legal violation Abdul Karim Miqdad committed in Cyprus, Coordinating Minister Yusril answered that Miqdad did not commit any legal violation in Indonesia, while regarding Cyprus he could not specify because it is the authority of the Cypriot government to explain that.
“I can only conclude that the category of the alleged act committed by the person concerned is a crime called transnational organised crime, carried out by a network involving various countries including Cyprus, Indonesia, and several other countries. However, according to the Cypriot government, the evidence they have gathered is sufficient. While here we only need two pieces of evidence, there in Cyprus they already have witnesses, evidence, and someone has also been arrested, and that person has explained the connection between them and Miqdad,” said Coordinating Minister Yusril.
Coordinating Minister Yusril added that all of this forms part of the legal process documented in Cyprus and serves as the basis for them to request a red notice from Interpol. When asked which organisation Miqdad is affiliated with, Coordinating Minister Yusril replied that he could not say. “I cannot mention that; the Cypriot government has the authority to explain it,” said Coordinating Minister Yusril.