Jakarta, July 22 -- The Indonesian government has emphasized that its action against Palestinian national Abdul Karim Raed Miqdad was based on a legitimate red notice request from the Cypriot authority while clarifying that Karim is not an activist nor a preacher.

"There are growing claims that the Indonesian government arrested and deported a Palestinian cleric," Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated during a press conference on Wednesday.

Yusril said that the government has communicated with the Palestinian Embassy in Jakarta to verify Karim's identity and background.

Based on the available data and documents, Abdul Karim (41) is a businessman instead of an activist for ...