Estonia expels students accused of supporting Hezbollah and Iran

Estonia’s Internal Security Service (ISS/KAPO) reported on January 14 that it expelled two students suspected of supporting Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Both were in Estonia under academic mobility programs — one from Pakistan, the other from India, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Internal Security Service’s announcement on the social media platform X.

KAPO koos @Politsei’ga saatis Eestist välja kaks terroristliku Hezbollah ja Iraani islamistliku režiimi toetajat. Täna saadeti välja Pakistani kodanik Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi ja mullu suvel India kodanik Syed Shahid Musvi. Mõlemad olid Eestis õpirände raames. pic.twitter.com/GeEKwubKat

— Kaitsepolitseiamet (@kaitsepolitsei) January 14, 2026

According to the ISS, the Pakistani national was expelled yesterday, while the Indian national was deported last summer. The agency published photos of both men near a detention facility, accompanied by masked officers.

While Estonia has previously publicly expelled Russian citizens linked to intelligence or posing a security threat, cases involving nationals of other countries being publicly expelled are rarer.

The latest ISS annual report highlighted the threat of Islamic extremism: historically, a peaceful Muslim community in Estonia has recently shown signs of radicalisation influenced by external factors, including terrorist propaganda. The agency pointed to the Israel–Hamas conflict in 2024 as a factor that fueled rising anti-Semitic sentiments.

The report also noted changes in the community’s leadership: a long-serving imam resigned after, according to the ISS, promoting Hamas narratives, maintaining ties with Russian Islamic leaders, and acting in personal interest. Another foreign imam was deemed a threat to Estonia’s security, as his activities intensified internal conflicts within the country’s Muslim community.

By Vugar Khalilov