Yusril to Meet Islamic Mass Organisations at MUI to Clarify Abdul Karim Case
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra has stated he will meet with several Islamic mass organisations at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) office to clarify the case of Abdul Karim Raeq Miqdad. He conveyed that the MUI had requested the government provide an official explanation regarding the deportation of Abdul Karim, an Interpol fugitive and Palestinian citizen, to Cyprus. “Tonight at 7 p.m. I will meet with Islamic mass organisations at the Indonesian Ulema Council office,” Yusril said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. In addition to providing an explanation, he said he also wanted to hear the opinions of the Islamic mass organisations regarding the Abdul Karim case during the opportunity. He stated that dialogue with Islamic mass organisations would continue, particularly if there are new developments related to the case. Abdul Karim was arrested in the Tangerang area, Banten, Indonesia on Thursday (16/7), following the issuance of a red notice by Interpol Cyprus, and was deported to Cyprus on Friday (17/7). After being deported, Abdul Karim will be tried in a Cypriot court after being named a suspect in a criminal act of terrorism based on preliminary evidence that has been collected. He thus confirmed that Abdul Karim would not be handed over by the Cypriot government to the Israeli government, contrary to circulating narratives. “After I met with the Cypriot Ambassador, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also convey an official diplomatic note to the Cypriot government to obtain a guarantee that there will be no further deportation from Cyprus,” the Coordinating Minister added. Yusril also confirmed that Abdul Karim is neither a Palestinian ulama nor a humanitarian activist in Gaza, but rather an ordinary citizen involved in the business world. It is known that Abdul Karim had been residing in Indonesia for the last three years and is married with a child.