Police Claim Deported Palestinian Was Not an Activist or Ustaz
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has confirmed the arrest and deportation of a Palestinian national, Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad (AKRM), to Nicosia, Cyprus. However, the NCB Polri stressed that AKRM is not an ustaz or Islamic religious expert who had been claimed to be a Palestinian activist in Indonesia.
NCB Polri Secretary Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko stated that AKRM, who was arrested by Interpol on Thursday (16/7/2026), is a criminal offender sought by international police. AKRM, Untung explained, was placed on a Red Notice as an international fugitive on 10 June 2026. "An Interpol Red Notice will not be issued if the subject sought is related to politics, religion, human rights, military, or racial matters," Untung told Republika on Wednesday (22/7/2026). He added that the Polri International Relations Division would not possibly arrest and deport a Palestinian in Indonesia labelled as a religious scholar.
"How could an ustaz be hunted? A politician be hunted? Clearly, a Red Notice would not be issued. What is clear is that once a Red Notice is issued for someone, it has gone through very strict verification," Untung said. Regarding the arrest and deportation of AKRM after the Red Notice was issued, it was also known that the name was linked to illegal activities. "The network role is clear, the person concerned (AKRM) is a perpetrator," Untung stated.
He explained that AKRM was arrested and deported by NCB Polri after he was detected entering Indonesia through immigration crossing data in Jakarta. "The Interpol Red Notice was issued on 10 June 2026, and it was discovered that the person concerned entered Indonesian territory from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," Untung said. Through cross-Interpol communication, security authorities in Malaysia had also carried out arrests and deportations of several names linked to AKRM. "The network of the person concerned in Malaysia had already been arrested first," Untung added.
NCB Interpol also has a clear administrative basis from a decree issued by the Ministry of Justice in Cyprus in May 2026, which explained that AKRM was involved in a criminal incident in Nicosia. "We carried out the deportation due to the potential threat domestically and, of course, in accordance with procedures as an Interpol member country, where there is an arrest warrant and suspect designation by the Cyprus Police," Untung clarified.
He added that the arrested and deported AKRM has a wide network in the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region and is considered a dangerous group. "The cell network map of the person concerned is very clear in Southeast Asia, but its classification is restricted. This matter certainly cannot be provided transparently," Untung continued.
Documentation of the arrest and deportation by NCB Polri shows a stark difference from Sheikh Miqdad, who has been known as an activist or preacher from Palestine in Indonesia. In the documentation obtained by Republika, AKRM is seen wearing a bright green T-shirt, black trousers, glasses, and a watch on his left arm. AKRM has a thin build and yellowish-white hair. In the documentation, AKRM is seen reading a white piece of paper while standing, with an officer counting a stack of US dollar and Rupiah banknotes. In other documentation, a similar-looking AKRM is escorted by Interpol officers onto a jet aircraft without handcuffs. "Abdulkarim Miqdad boards the plane. The person concerned is wearing black shorts and a green T-shirt," the documentation explained. NCB Polri arrested AKRM at a hotel in the West Jakarta area. Before his arrest, AKRM was known to have moved his place of residence up to five times in a single day.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Miqdad, who has been known as an activist and religious figure from Palestine in Indonesia, often appears in a religious manner. From several documentations, Sheikh Miqdad frequently dresses religiously in a white robe, white cap, or batik. Most significantly, the Sheikh Miqdad known to the public in Indonesia has a tall and stocky build, with a moustache and beard that connects across his entire outer jawline.