Arab Organisation for Human Rights in UK (AOHR UK) expresses shock over the election of UAE’s police officer for the presidency of Interpol, warning that the mission of the organisation would become completely politicised and working in favour of authoritarian regimes.
On Thursday, November 25, the international law enforcement body elected a continuous UAE official for its presidency during its annual General Assembly in Istanbul.
His election came despite numerous calls from MEPs, and activists around the world to remove Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi’s name from the list of nominees for the position of heading the Interpol.
Al-Raisi’s candidacy sparked widespread controversy due to the UAE’s poor human rights record, given that Al-Raisi himself is accused of being responsible for the torture of dozens of prisoners in UAE jails and the torture of two British citizens.
Members of the European Parliament had sent an open letter to the European Commission urging European Union (EU) states to elect an Interpol chief that comes “from a country with an established criminal justice system and longstanding respect for human rights”.
“We deeply believe that the election of General Al Raisi would undermine the mission and reputation of Interpol and severely affect the ability of the organisation to carry out its mission effectively,” they added.
AOHR UK confirms that the election of a UAE’s official to the position of Interpol director is a flagrant violation of the second article of the basic law of Interpol and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
AOHR UK has also criticised the failure of the Interpol to investigate credible evidence on UAE’s officer for overseeing torture and his involvement in human rights abuses; pointing out that turning a blind eye to such serious allegations ends the neutrality of the Interpol.
United Kingdom’s former director of public prosecutions, Sir David Calvert-Smith has issued a report on the funding of the UAE to the Interpol and confirmed having found evidence of UAE’s misuse of the Red Notice system for the wanted people across the world.
AOHR UK fears that human rights activists, politicians and opinion holders will become victims of the Red Notice system which will target them everywhere, given the policy UAE deals with its opponents and critics which will be transmitted through its new police officer who became the President of the international organisation.
