Cyprus’ Supreme Court on 21 September issued a rare habeas-corpus ruling ordering the immediate release of a Lebanese national who had been held in administrative detention for more than a year pending deportation. The court found that the state could no longer demonstrate a “realistic prospect” of removing the man after Lebanese authorities repeatedly refused to issue travel documents. The applicant had first sought asylum in 2019; following several failed appeals, he served an 18-month prison sentence for assault before immigration officers re-detained him in August 2025 under deportation orders. Despite six periodic reviews, the detention was extended every two months, prompting human-rights lawyers to file the habeas-corpus petition. In its decision, the court emphasised EU Return Directive principles that detention must be for the shortest period necessary and cease once removal is not feasible within a reasonable timeframe. It also criticised the lack of alternative, less-coercive measures explored by authorities—such as reporting obligations or bail—before resorting to prolonged custody. The judgment is likely to influence Cyprus’ wider detention policy, which has come under scrutiny from the European Commission and NGOs for excessive use of pre-removal custody. Legal firms handling corporate relocations note that the case highlights the importance of rapid document procurement and cooperation with consular posts to avoid long, costly detention for employees or family members who fall out of status.
Source: Sigmalive
