Cyprus denies arrest warrants for Moroccan security officials

The Cypriot government has vigorously denied issuing international arrest warrants for senior Moroccan security officials. Responding to recent reports, Theodoros Gotsis, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserted Friday to the MAP agency that «the competent Cypriot authorities, namely the judicial services and the police, confirm these allegations are completely unfounded».

He further clarified, «This is fake news. No criminal case and no arrest warrant have been issued against the individuals mentioned in the alleged reports».

The source of these allegations appears to be a news site based in Brescia, Italy, run by Moroccan national Driss Ferhane. The Algerian Press Service (APS) subsequently published an article titled «Senior Moroccan Security Officials Targeted by International Arrest Warrants», specifically citing Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of the DGSN and DGST, and Mohamed Dkhissi, Central Director of the Judicial Police.

On Thursday, a Moroccan diplomatic source «categorically denied» the claims, stating, «The security institutions of the Kingdom are renowned worldwide for their rigor, expertise, and professionalism, as evidenced, among other things, by the Kingdom's selection to host the 93rd General Assembly of Interpol».