Supreme Court of Cyprus orders release of Iranian national

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has ordered the immediate release of an Iranian national who had been held in custody for twelve months pending deportation. Justice E. Ephraim ruled that the ongoing detention was illegal, stating that the relevant authorities failed to provide sufficient evidence regarding their efforts to secure travel documents or the genuine prospects of completing the deportation process.

The individual had arrived in Cyprus in 2000 and submitted various applications for residency and employment over the years. Following a deportation order issued in September 2025 and a subsequent application for international protection in February 2026, which was rejected in May 2026, the authorities continued to hold the man. While the state argued that it was in regular contact with the Iranian embassy to secure necessary documentation, the court found that since June 2026, the authorities had merely provided vague and repetitive statements without detailing concrete actions or specific obstacles faced.

Consequent to this failure to substantiate the necessity of prolonged detention, the court granted a habeas corpus petition. The judge determined that the lack of progress and transparent reporting rendered the continued deprivation of liberty unlawful, regardless of the initial legal grounds for his arrest.