Geneva – The Geneva Council for Rights and Liberties expressed deep concern over the arrest of Palestinian activist Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad by the Indonesian authorities and his subsequent deportation to Cyprus, amid the lack of clarity surrounding the legal basis for the proceedings and growing fears that he may ultimately be extradited to Israel.
In a statement issued today, the Council said it is closely monitoring the case following Miqdad’s arrest in Indonesia on 16 July 2026 and his transfer to the Republic of Cyprus early the following morning. The rapid sequence of events has heightened concerns that the deportation could serve as a preliminary step toward his extradition to Israel.
According to available information and official documents reviewed by the Council, the arrest was carried out pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol in Nicosia, alleging involvement in a “terrorism offence” in Cyprus.
The Council further noted that it had been informed that, on Saturday morning, Miqdad was allowed to speak briefly with his family by phone through his lawyer. During the call, he was reportedly required to speak only in English so that officials could understand the conversation. He reassured his family that he was safe, asked them to collect his personal belongings from the Indonesian Interpol office, and confirmed that he had already arrived in Cyprus. He did not discuss the circumstances of his transfer.
The Council stressed that the documents it examined contain no description of the alleged facts, no disclosure of the evidence supporting the accusations, and no explanation of the specific conduct constituting the alleged offence. Such omissions raise serious concerns regarding compliance with the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial, including the right of every detainee to be informed promptly and in detail of the reasons for arrest and the nature of the charges against them.
The Council emphasized that the mere existence of an Interpol Red Notice or an arrest request does not relieve the competent authorities of their obligation to uphold international human rights standards. Nor does it justify restricting the detainee’s right to challenge the proceedings, obtain effective legal representation, and contest any decision relating to extradition.
The Geneva Council expressed particular concern over reports suggesting that Miqdad’s transfer to Cyprus may be intended as a step toward his extradition to Israel. Such concerns are especially grave in light of extensive documentation by international organizations and United Nations mechanisms detailing serious abuses against Palestinian detainees, including systematic torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, rape, denial of legal safeguards, and deaths in custody.
The Council also takes seriously the concerns expressed by Miqdad’s family that the proceedings against him may be politically motivated, linked to his public opposition to the genocide in the Gaza Strip and his advocacy for Palestinian rights. In this context, the Council stressed that any extradition proceedings must be subject to rigorous and independent judicial scrutiny to ensure that international criminal cooperation mechanisms are not misused to target individuals because of their political opinions or legitimate civil activism.
The Council reaffirmed the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international law, which prohibits the transfer of any person to a state where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or other serious violations of their fundamental rights.
Accordingly, the Geneva Council for Rights and Liberties called on the Cypriot authorities to suspend any steps that could result in the extradition of Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad to Israel until a full, independent, and impartial judicial review has been completed.
The Council further urged the authorities to guarantee all of Miqdad’s legal rights, including access to legal counsel and communication with his family, and to ensure his ability to challenge both his detention and any extradition proceedings.
It also called for full disclosure of the legal basis and the specific factual allegations underlying the arrest and extradition requests, in accordance with the principles of transparency and fair trial guarantees.
Finally, the Council stressed the importance of full compliance with relevant international legal obligations, particularly the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The Geneva Council affirmed that it will continue to closely monitor the case and called on the relevant United Nations bodies and international organizations to intervene urgently to safeguard Miqdad’s rights and prevent his exposure to any risk that could endanger his safety or fundamental freedoms.
