Supreme Court orders release of Iranian national held for deportation

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has issued a habeas corpus writ for an Iranian national, ordering his immediate release after 23 months of detention. The individual entered Cyprus legally in 2002 and was granted refugee status in 2004. He was arrested in November 2023 over allegations that he was involved in activities linked to Iranian terrorist elements, specifically planning attacks against Israeli nationals. Although he applied for citizenship in 2009, he was issued a biometric passport in 2024 to facilitate his deportation. Two previous habeas corpus applications were rejected in July and October 2024, as authorities cited difficulties in executing deportation; the detainee requested to be sent to Israel, but no transport service was willing to accept him with his travel documents. The court ultimately ruled that continued detention was no longer justified under the prevailing circumstances. The decision marks the end of a prolonged legal process regarding the individual's national security status.