Yusril Confirms Deported Palestinian Abdul Karim Is Not a Cleric or Activist

Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has explained that Abdul Karim Raeq Miqdad, the Palestinian national deported from Indonesia, is neither a cleric nor a humanitarian activist for Gaza.

“There are opinions circulating that the Indonesian government arrested and deported a Palestinian cleric,” Yusril said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (22 July).

Yusril explained that thorough verification steps had been taken, including direct communication with the Palestinian Ambassador, to confirm Abdul Karim’s citizenship status and background. Based on examination of his passport and other supporting documents, Abdul Karim was found to be 41 years old.

From this data, he said, it was established that Abdul Karim is an ordinary member of the public working in business. Although he had lived in Indonesia for the past three years and had a wife and child, no evidence was found of his involvement in humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip.

“However, the person concerned (Abdul Karim) also frequently travelled in and out of other countries, but there is no evidence that he was a humanitarian activist in the Gaza Strip, as the opinion circulating in society suggests,” Yusril added.

He also stressed that if Abdul Karim had indeed been a cleric, the public would certainly have known him through his preaching or religious study activities during his time in Indonesia.

Abdul Karim was arrested by security authorities in the Tangerang area of Banten on Thursday (16 July). The arrest followed up on a red notice issued by Interpol at the request of Cyprus. After undergoing administrative processing, he was deported to Cyprus on Friday (17 July).

In Cyprus, Abdul Karim will face legal proceedings in local courts. He has been named a suspect in a terrorism crime based on preliminary evidence gathered by the Cypriot authorities.