Missing 13-year-old Majed Alashater has been found in the north and is in good health, police confirmed on Tuesday.
The Syrian teenager had been missing for six days from a Nicosia accommodation facility. He was located in the occupied areas following a coordinated search involving police, Social Welfare Services, and other authorities.
The Bicommunal Contact Office informed police of his whereabouts, and the Republic is expected to receive word soon regarding whether the boy will be returned by the occupying authorities.
According to child rights group Hope for Children, Majed attempted to reach his mother, who is currently in Turkey, using irregular means. The organisation said he had not expressed any intense desire to reunite with his mother prior to that .
Majed disappeared on 6 August after telling staff he was going to a nearby shop. When he failed to return, his carers raised the alarm. A peer later revealed he had spoken of plans to find his mother.
Hope for Children and the Social Welfare Services both rejected claims that bullying was involved. The organisation added that current EU law offers no legal path for parents from third countries to reunite with minors under asylum status—leaving many children vulnerable to dangerous decisions.
The case highlights growing concerns over migration policies and child protection across Europe.
With information from: Philenews English
Feature photo source: My hero
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