Filenews 30 December 2025 - by Fanis Makridis
The request of the Republic of Cyprus was rejected yesterday in order to overturn the decision of a French Court, which decided not to extradite to Cyprus the suspected of large-scale usurpation of property in the occupied territories, Behdad Jafari.
The demarche on the part of the Republic 10 days ago with the aim of starting proceedings to annul the aforementioned verdict was revealed by "F" on December 19. Yesterday, therefore, the Ministry of Justice received a negative response from the competent French Central Authority.
Specifically, in the simple response to the Ministry of Justice, the French note that the request will not be granted, for a legal demarche to annul the decision issued by the Provence judiciary on 10/12.
As they characteristically note, there is no "question of incorrect application of the Law" to allow the registration of an "application for annulment". Beyond that, nothing. They do not give any other explanation, nor, of course, do they justify their decision in any way.
Multi-page memo
It should be recalled that the Appeals Department of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence (modern first instance jurisdiction) on December 10 decided to release the 39-year-old Iranian. The latter had been arrested on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the Republic of Cyprus.
In his decision, he recorded that he cannot extradite him because European law is not applied and does not apply in an area in which the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. It is precisely this point that conveys both the political aspect and the importance it has for our national problem.
The Ministry of Justice, when it had contacted the competent French central authority through the Legal Service of the Republic, had sufficiently supported his request, according to secure information from "F".
Specifically, the Cypriot request was accompanied by a multi-page memorandum of the Legal Service, in which, as our newspaper is in a position to know, the positions of the Republic of Cyprus on the incorrect application of the Law and specifically the framework decision were adequately analyzed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is informed
As early as yesterday, as "F" is in a position to know, the rejection of the request by the competent French Authority is being evaluated by the Ministry of Justice. The issue, according to well-informed sources of our newspaper, has also been brought before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Something that also confirms the political aspect of the issue, since it has also been linked to the relations between Cyprus and France.
A source, moreover, stressed to "F" that the negative response received yesterday by the Republic of Cyprus to register a request for the annulment of the verdict, "does not necessarily mean exhausting all the margins for overturning the negative decision for Cyprus".
French reluctance
However, this latest development intensifies the concern, especially if we consider the reluctance shown by the French Public Prosecutor's Office to promote the Republic's request for Jafari's extradition.
We remind you that well-informed circles in Nicosia had attributed the negative development of December 10 to the disregard of jurisprudence (Apostolides case), but also to the fact that the French prosecutor's office had not adequately promoted the request of the Republic of Cyprus for Jafari's extradition.
The verdict essentially questions the jurisdiction of the Republic to prosecute criminal persons for offenses committed in the occupied territories. Something that is in complete contradiction with the case of Aykut.
He recorded his positions...
We remind you that Jafari's lawyer had put forward a series of legal arguments to overturn his client's extradition request to the Republic of Cyprus. Although the Provencal court did not proceed to evaluate these legal positions, it nevertheless recorded them in its verdict.
Jafari's defense attorney had made the following allegations:
> The Republic of Cyprus attempts to criminalise events of a civil nature.
> The actions in the occupied territories were based on legislation in force there.
> There is a political motive with the sole purpose of preventing residential development in the occupied territories.
> The mechanism for issuing a European arrest warrant was misused.
Six illegal developments by Jafari, with him talking about political persecution
The 39-year-old, Behdad Jafari, already after the verdict of the Court and after the first ten days of this month, returned to the occupied territories through Istanbul. It is clear that the goal of his arrest is no longer a feasible scenario. Any actions on the part of the Republic aim to overturn a court decision of a member state of the European Union. In fact, in a written statement republished by the newspaper of the occupied territories, "Kipris", Jafari appeared to attribute his persecution to political motives... It was noted that "the French judicial authorities examined my case thoroughly, independently and with complete impartiality. This clearly demonstrates the power of the rule of law in France. Court decisions are based on legal principles and evidence, not on political motives."
He previously said that "the European arrest warrant against me was based on allegations about his construction activities in 'northern Cyprus' and that some projects were carried out illegally on properties belonging to Greek Cypriots."
As "F" is in a position to know, the 39-year-old was born in Tehran in 1986. He resided permanently in Nice, France. Data available to the Authorities of the Republic indicate that the interest company of ISATIS Construction Group erected six tourist complexes and an apartment building in Famagusta. All developments are on land owned by Greek Cypriots.
