Interpol on Thursday elected a controversial UAE official as its new president throughout the worldwide regulation enforcement physique’s annual common meeting held in Istanbul.
Major General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, Inspector General of the UAE’s Ministry of the Interior and a member of Interpol’s Executive Committee, was elected to a four-year time period, the worldwide police physique introduced. Human rights teams have accused him of being concerned in torture and arbitrary detention within the UAE.
Another controversial candidate, Hu Binchen, an official in China’s Ministry of Public Security, was chosen to affix Interpol’s govt committee as a consultant from Asia. Hu had the backing of the Chinese authorities, which is suspected of utilizing the worldwide police physique to seek out dissidents in exile and banish its residents.
The Lyon, France-based company acts as an middleman for the nationwide police companies that attempt to hint suspects exterior their borders. Al-Raisi and Hu’s election comes at a time when the worldwide physique has come below criticism that its “red notice” system is getting used to exile dissidents or political enemies relatively than criminals. However, Interpol’s constitution prohibits using police notices for political causes.
Interpol mentioned al-Raisi was elected after three rounds of voting and acquired 68.9% of the vote within the ultimate spherical.
“It is an honor to be chosen to serve as the next chairman of Interpol,” Al-Raisi was quoted as saying by the worldwide police company.
“Interpol is an essential organization built on the strength of its partnership. It is in this collaborative spirit, united in mission, that I will continue to promote it while working to create a safer world for people and communities,” he mentioned. mentioned.
The vote for the president was carefully watched because the physique’s first Chinese president, Meng Hongwei, disappeared in the course of his four-year time period on a return go to to China in 2018. It later emerged that he was taken into custody and charged with bribery. and different alleged offences.
Al-Raisi is accused of torture and has prison complaints in opposition to him in 5 international locations, together with France, the place Interpol is headquartered, and Turkey, the place the election was held.
His election was met with pleasure within the United Arab Emirates, however met with indignant reactions from the 2 Britons who filed the grievance.
“It is a sad day for international justice and global policing,” mentioned Matthew Hedges, a British doctoral scholar who was imprisoned within the UAE for practically seven months in 2018 on expenses of espionage. Hedges says he was subjected to torture and months of solitary confinement.
Ali Issa Ahmed, a soccer fan who says he was harassed by the UAE safety company throughout the 2019 Asia Cup soccer match, mentioned: “I stand for justice for the atrocities and abuses meted out to me below the supervision of Al-Raisi. I can’t cease my battle. I hope Interpol is not going to permit them to abuse some other particular person.
His lawyer, Rodney Dixon, mentioned his consumer would “redouble his efforts to get justice for his torture and have General al-Raisy pursue him in the national courts, wherever he travels in his new position.”
The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pardoned Hedges, however Emirati officers nonetheless insist that Hedges was spying for Britain’s MI6 intelligence company, sure to again up his claims. with out presenting proof. He, his household and British diplomats have repeatedly denied the allegations.
The Inter-Parliamentary Coalition on China, which regroups legislators from world wide, expressed concern over Hu’s election to Interpol’s govt committee, saying it could see China “as a vehicle for its repressive policies”. Gives a inexperienced mild to proceed utilizing Interpol.” There was no fast remark from Beijing.
In the United Arab Emirates, now internet hosting the Expo 2020 World’s Fair in Dubai and marking the fiftieth anniversary of its founding, Emirati officers celebrated the choice of Al-Raisi. Interior Minister Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan mentioned it “demonstrates the world’s trust in the UAE.”
Al-Raisi praised the leaders of the UAE, saying, “With their guidance and expertise, the UAE has become one of the safest countries in the world.” They pledged to modernize Interpol’s know-how, promote girls and meet new challenges like local weather change and the coronavirus pandemic.
“I will also continue to affirm the core tenet of my profession – that police abuse or abuse of any kind is abhorrent and intolerable,” he mentioned in an announcement on his web site. “The credibility and status of Interpol and global law enforcement are our most important assets.”
Syed Ahmed Alwadei, an activist on the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, warned al-Raisi’s election “represents the beginning of a dangerous era, in which authoritarian regimes are no longer able to direct international policing.”
“No one is safe from the abuse of Interpol and the authoritarian regime,” Alwadei mentioned in an announcement.
Al-Raisi changed Kim Jong-yan of South Korea, a vice-president, who was swiftly chosen as a alternative to serve the remainder of Meng’s time period.
Although the Secretary General of Interpol runs Interpol on a day-to-day foundation, the President performs a task in overseeing the work of the police physique and guiding its total common path. The Chairman presides over the overall conferences of Interpol and the conferences of its Executive Committee.
The publish of Secretary General is at the moment held by Jürgen Stock of Germany.
Meanwhile, Interpol additionally mentioned that Brazil’s Valdisi Urquiza was chosen for the publish of vp for the Americas, whereas Nigeria’s Garba Baba Omar was elected vp for Africa.
Around 470 police chiefs, ministers and different representatives from over 160 international locations participated within the three-day assembly. Each collaborating nation has one vote.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
