Yusril Meets Islamic Organisations at MUI to Clarify Palestinian Deportation Case
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra met with several Islamic community organisations at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday evening to provide clarification regarding the case of Abdul Karim Raeq Miqdad. He explained that the central MUI board had requested the government provide an official explanation concerning the deportation of Abdul Karim, a Palestinian passport holder who was the subject of an Interpol red notice issued by Cyprus. Besides offering clarification, Yusril said he also wanted to hear the views of the Islamic organisations on the matter. He added that dialogue with Islamic organisations would continue, particularly if there are new developments in the case.
Abdul Karim was arrested in the Tangerang area, Banten, on Thursday following the issuance of a red notice by Interpol Cyprus and was deported to Cyprus on Friday. After his deportation, he is set to stand trial in a Cypriot court after being named a suspect in a criminal act of terrorism based on preliminary evidence collected. Yusril confirmed that Abdul Karim would not be handed over by the Cypriot government to Israel, countering circulating narratives. He stated that following his meeting with the Cypriot Ambassador, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would deliver an official diplomatic note to the Cypriot government to secure a guarantee that there would be no further deportation from Cyprus.
Yusril also confirmed that Abdul Karim is not a Palestinian ulama or a humanitarian activist in Gaza, but an ordinary citizen involved in business who had been residing in Indonesia for the last three years, is married and has children. Separately, the Indonesian National Police’s International Relations Division stated that Abdul Karim is affiliated with a terrorist network whose members were previously arrested in Malaysia. Police Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of the NCB Interpol, echoed that the individual is not a religious figure or Palestinian activist, emphasising that an Interpol Red Notice would not be issued for matters related to politics or religion. He explained that the red notice was officially issued on 10 June 2026 following a request from the Cypriot government after a bombing in Nicosia, and the subject was later detected entering Indonesia from Kuala Lumpur. The deportation was carried out as the individual was deemed a potential security threat and as part of Indonesia’s obligations as an Interpol member. Earlier, social media reports had claimed the arrested man was a Palestinian activist, citing an Al Jazeera Arabic report which raised concerns about potential extradition to Israel.