Yusril to Meet MUI to Clarify Deportation of Palestinian Abdul Karim
Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra said he will meet several Islamic mass organisations (ormas) at the office of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to clarify the case of Abdul Karim Raeq Miqdad.
He said the MUI has asked the government to provide an official explanation regarding the deportation of Abdul Karim, an Interpol fugitive and Palestinian national, to Cyprus.
“Tonight at 7 o’clock I will meet the Islamic organisations at the Indonesian Ulema Council office,” Yusril said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Beyond providing an explanation, he said he also intends to hear the views of the Islamic organisations regarding Abdul Karim’s case. Dialogue with the Islamic organisations, he said, will continue, particularly if there are new developments related to the case.
Abdul Karim was arrested in the Tangerang area of Banten, Indonesia, on Thursday (17 July local date given as 16/7), following the issuance of a red notice by Interpol Cyprus, and was deported to Cyprus on Friday (17/7).
Following his deportation, Abdul Karim will stand trial in a Cypriot court after being named a suspect in a terrorism crime based on preliminary evidence that has been gathered. Yusril therefore assured that Abdul Karim will not be handed over by the Cypriot government to the Israeli government, contrary to narratives circulating recently.
“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 cleric nor a humanitarian activist in Gaza, but an ordinary citizen involved in business. It is understood that Abdul Karim has lived in Indonesia for the past three years and is married with children.
Yusril stated that the move forms part of international law enforcement cooperation, as Abdul Karim was involved in transnational organised crime.