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Saudi media reports allege Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks used north Cyprus as transit hub

In-Cyprus · 2026-06-27

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: Saudi media reports allege that networks linked to the Muslim Brotherhood have been using north Cyprus as a transit hub for fraudulent educational activities, including fake university enrollments and forged certificates. • Why it matters: The allegations highlight potential misuse of north Cyprus as a grey zone for fraud and political facilitation, raising concerns about the integrity of educational institutions in the region and the implications for international oversight. • What to watch next: Monitor developments regarding the investigation into these allegations and any potential responses from authorities in north Cyprus and Egypt, as well as the impact on foreign student enrollment in the area.

Local Egyptnorth cyprusTop Newsturkeyuniversities Saudi media reports allege Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks used north Cyprus as transit hub Katexomena Minaredes Relevant News Saudi media reports allege Muslim Brotherhood-linked networks used north Cyprus as transit hub 27 June 2026 Explosive drone targets Iranian Kurdish opposition camp north of Iraq’s Erbil, security sources say 27 June 2026 22-year-old arrested in Limassol over motorcycle theft and possession of suspected stolen goods 27 June 2026 Newsroom 27 June 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Saudi media outlets have reported allegations that north Cyprus has been used as an intermediary hub for networks linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, involving claims of fake university enrolments, financial fraud and forged certificates. According to reports by Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya and its sister channel Al Hadath, the so-called authorities in the breakaway north have expelled a member of the Muslim Brotherhood who was allegedly active in Turkey and worked as an office director for a senior figure linked to Salah Abdel Haq’s faction. Salah Abdel Haq is described in the reports as an Egyptian doctor and Islamist preacher, born in 1945 in Cairo, and is presented by one faction of the organisation as acting general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood. The expelled individual is alleged in the same reports to have operated an “educational brokerage” network in north Cyprus, targeting students seeking enrolment in so-called universities. The reports claim students and parents paid significant sums for multi-year study programmes but later discovered they had been enrolled for only one year, with the remaining funds allegedly misappropriated. The Saudi media reports also allege the network facilitated the presence of Muslim Brotherhood members facing court rulings in Egypt, with the aim of securing academic credentials or enrolment in north Cyprus to ease onward travel to Turkey. The same reports claim forged IELTS certificates were issued for payments that allegedly reached up to $5,000 per certificate. Separately, the individual is also reported to have worked with another person to establish unlicensed and unrecognised educational structures in north Cyprus, aimed at gathering young Muslim Brotherhood members. The reports further allege that the case highlights how north Cyprus may be used as a grey zone for networks involved in fraud, document forgery and political facilitation. They also note that higher education in the territory has for years attracted foreign students with limited international oversight, creating conditions that may be open to abuse. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Explosive drone targets Iranian Kurdish opposition camp north of Iraq’s Erbil, security sources say 22-year-old arrested in Limassol over motorcycle theft and possession of suspected stolen goods Magnitude 5.4 earthquake strikes Pakistan, EMSC says Cyprus to launch new financing body for SMEs and startups under fast-tracked reform Trump unveils commemorative US passport featuring his portrait for Independence anniversary Venezuela quake toll tops 900, search intensifies for hundreds trapped Germany, Poland poised for soaring temperatures as heatwave moves east Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.

Source: In-Cyprus
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