Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi is the new President of Interpol. The General Inspector of the Interior Ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was elected for the next four years at the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization in Istanbul on Thursday. As Interpol announced on its website, Al-Raisi received the necessary simple majority of the delegates from 195 member states in the third ballot with 68.9 percent. The emirati praised the “spirit of collaboration” it seeks to foster “while we work for a safer world for people and communities.”
The election was preceded by international protests by human rights activists, politicians and ex-prisoners who reported systematic torture in prisons in the UAE. Several former prisoners had engaged in public and international charges. Among them is the British doctoral student Matthew Hedges, who was arrested during a research visit in 2018 and detained for seven months. He reported of solitary confinement, the withholding of legal assistance and the administration of drug cocktails. Hedges had attempted suicide after his pardon, which came after strong diplomatic pressure. He describes al-Raisi as responsible for prisons, guards and questioning.
Protests also from German MPs
As early as 2020, Human Rights Watch had described the country’s top police officer as “part of a security apparatus that systematically targets peaceful critics”. Members of the Bundestag Kai Gehring (Greens), Frank Schwabe (SPD) and Peter Heidt (FDP) also opposed his election. Gehring said Thursday the election was “an indictment of the integrity of this organization and its future direction.” Interpol threatens to “throw rule of law principles and the protection of universal human rights overboard”.
The recent history of the organization is marked by scandals. For example, the incumbent President, Meng Hongwei, was arrested on a trip to his Chinese homeland in 2018 and arrested for corruption in 2020. A month ago, the Syrian regime was re-added to Interpol’s communications network. The unlawful use of so-called “red notices”, i.e. international arrest requests, is also a cause for concern. “Germany must urge internationally to pay more attention to possible abuse in extraditions,” said Frank Schwabe, member of the Bundestag.
The Emirates have been a major donor at Interpol since 2015. The question was already in the room whether the Gulf state wants to buy influence with it. The UAE transfers the second highest contribution amount after the USA.
The role of the Interpol President is above all representative. In the future, Al-Raisi will chair the general assembly and meetings of the executive committee. The German Secretary General Jürgen Stock continues to manage day-to-day operations. The former long-time vice-head of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) welcomed al-Raisi’s election.