3 October 2018
Syrian Hassan al Kontar, who has been stranded at klia2 since March, has been arrested.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said Hassan was detained by police on Monday for being in the airport’s restricted zone.
“Flight passengers with boarding passes at the boarding area are supposed to get on their flight, but this man did not do so.
“As he was in a restricted zone, the authorities had to take necessary action,” said Mustafar in a press conference at the Immigration headquarters here yesterday.
He added that after police finished questioning Hassan, the Syrian national would be referred to the Immigration Department.
“The man claimed he does not want to return to Syria because he is afraid of becoming a soldier or whatever his real reason is. But we need to have closure here,” said Mustafar.
The Syrian has posted videos of his life stuck in transit on social media and attracted the attention of human rights groups and the media.
His situation has also drawn comparisons to Tom Hanks’ character in the movie The Terminal.
The Syrian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said they were in the process of inquiring about Hassan’s fate.
A UNHCR spokesman here said they were in contact with the authorities and seeking Hassan’s immediate release.
The official said Hassan was registered with the organisation as a person of concern and that the government here respected international laws related to his situation.
Source: www.thestar.com.my
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