Behdad Jafari Arrested in France for Land Grabbing

Behdad Jafari, of Iranian origin, was arrested at Nice airport in France based on a European arrest warrant issued on January 24, 2025. The warrant concerns a case of land grabbing in the occupied territories, specifically involving 7 complexes in the Famagusta province.

According to the Cyprus News Agency (CYPE), Jafari had received "citizenship" from the pseudo-state two years ago and was arriving from Istanbul. A national arrest warrant preceded the European one. There is no international arrest warrant against him.

The arrest was reported by Turkish Cypriot media. The president of the Turkish Cypriot contractors association, Ciafer Yurciafer, stated that Jafari had checked if he was on Interpol's wanted list and was not.

Yuntem Kipris wrote that Jafari collaborates with companies of the Afik group, owned by Simon Ayiout, who is on trial in Nicosia for land grabbing. CYPE clarifies that Jafari is not wanted in the Ayiout case.