(MENAFN- Detained in Dubai) 25 November 2021
While the position is largely ceremonial, Al-Raisi’s election has raised serious concerns among legal experts and activists globally. Al-Raisi himself has faced allegations of “torture and barbarism”, specifically in connection to the wrongful detentions of British academic Matthew Hedges and Emirati democracy advocate Ahmed Mansour.
His candidacy was opposed within the organisation, in the European Parliament, and among US politicians. Along with China, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, the UAE has been identified as a habitual abuser of the Interpol database and Red Notice system. Many view Al-Raisi’s election as a leap backwards for the organisation, likely influenced by the UAE’s significant contribution to Interpol’s funding; and the decision has further deteriorated the organisation’s reputation and legitimacy.
The King of Interpol Abuse
Handing out Interpol notices like his own personal business cards, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi is described as “The King of Interpol Abuse”. The ruler of a small northern region of the UAE, called Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud has had to find other means to bring in money to his oil-dry Emirate. The Sheikh set his sights on foreign investors for development in the manufacturing, trade and tourism sectors, creating a free trade zone and offshore centre to lure in foreigners but, sadly, investmen
International extradition expert, Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Due Process International, IPEX Reform and Detained in Dubai, has been the leading voice for Interpol reform; today Stirling issued a stark warning that Al-Raisi’s election sends a chilling signal to the world that Interpol has become an overt collaborator with the worst abusers of their own mechanisms: "Interpol’s election of General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi today has dealt a severe setback to those of us who have been pushing for reforms and greater transparency in the international policing organisation, and represents an unfortunate and near-fatal blow to Interpol’s credibility.
Not only is General Al-Raisi himself accused of complicity in torture and grave human rights violations, but the United Arab Emirates has established itself as one of the most prolific abusers of the Interpol system.
Detained in Dubai statement on pardon of Matthew Hedges, Brit academic jailed for life for "spy
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who have been actively pushing for the release of British academic Matthew Hedges, commented today on the pardon just issued by the UAE government: “We are happy that Matthew Hedges has been released, but let us be clear, the UAE is trying to get themselves off the hook by issuing this pardon; they are asking for clemency, not granting it. “Matthew should never have been arrested; never should have been forced to sign a false confession in Arabic; never
The UAE has used Interpol Red Notices essentially as an instrument for de facto expansion of their jurisdiction to persecute foreigners, most often over business disputes and fabricated charges which would be rejected by almost any court in the developed world. Over the past decade, Interpol has increasingly empowered authoritarian regimes around the globe to pursue political dissidents, journalists, and academics, as well as business people and investors; the election of Al-Raisi signals that the organisation has no intention of correcting this trajectory, but rather of accelerating in the direction of further abuse. It is outrageous that an institution originally founded to uphold justice and due process has chosen as its president a man implicated in serious crimes from a country that is renowned for exploiting Interpol’s role as a means to extort and intimidate innocent people, and a country which itself has consistently proven to have a corrupt legal system.”
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