Supreme Court orders release of Lebanese national after lengthy detention

The Supreme Court of Cyprus issued a decision on September 15, 2026, ordering the immediate release of a Lebanese national who had been held for over a year pending deportation. The court ruled that continued detention was no longer justified due to the Lebanese authorities' persistent refusal to accept him and the resulting uncertainty regarding when, if ever, his deportation could be executed.

The individual arrived in Cyprus via the occupied territories and sought international protection in July 2019, but the application was rejected. In September 2021, he was sentenced by the Paphos Assize Court to 18 months in prison for offenses including conspiracy to commit a felony and causing grievous bodily harm. Deportation and detention orders were issued against him in 2022. This case follows a prior legal history, including a 2023 habeas corpus petition that previously resulted in his temporary release before he was detained again.