Alpha News

French Court Rejects Cyprus's Extradition Request for Land Grab Suspect

Published January 22, 2026, 14:25

A French court has definitively rejected Cyprus's request to extradite an Iranian national with “citizenship” from the self-proclaimed state, who is accused of illegally acquiring Greek Cypriot land in the occupied territories. The decision was based on the fact that European law does not apply within the borders of the self-proclaimed state. Tufan Erhürman, a representative of the Turkish Cypriot side, stated that this decision highlights the need to avoid imposing solutions to the Cyprus issue by punishing individuals for problems arising from the lack of a comprehensive settlement. He emphasized the importance of building trust and finding solutions within the framework of negotiations. The French court ruled that the information provided by the Republic of Cyprus was insufficient and inconsistent to justify the extradition. Specifically, there was a lack of adequate evidence to define the crime or its penalties under French law. The Iranian national, Behdad Jafari, stated that the charges relate to offenses allegedly committed between 2015-2025 in the area not under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. The court's decision is a significant development in the context of the Cyprus issue and efforts to find a solution.