21 EU MEPs Call for Electing Interpol Head with No Human Rights Violations Record

20 EU MEPs Call for Electing Interpol Head with No Human Rights Violations Record

20 Members of the European Parliament signed a petition by the International United Nations Watch which viewed with a great concern that the Interpol most important job might be taken by United Arab Emirates (UAE) security chief, Ahmed al-Raisi, who is accused of serious human rights abuses.

The petition noted that Al-Raisi’s seeking to become the new head of Interpol sends alarming signs that the Interpol, which plays an important role in bringing more peace to the world, will be led by a person associated with human rights abuses.

“Since 2011, when UAE authorities began a decade-long assault on freedom of expression and association, Human Rights Watch and GCHR have documented numerous allegations of serious abuse at the hands of state security forces, particularly against peaceful critics of government policies, including enforced disappearances and torture,” it read.

“Al-Raisi also has been accused of misusing the red notice system where It has reportedly been used in the past against individuals who owed debt to UAE banks. Foreigners have found themselves subject to red notices for business disputes, but also smaller offences such as bounced checks and credit card debt,” it added.

The signatories called on member states to reject Al-Raisi’s candidacy for his role in human rights violations, vote for the Czech candidate Šárka Havránková who represent human rights values and have a clean record and called on the Interpol to establish a committee to make sure candidates who run for Interpol have a clean human rights record.

Signatories:

1. MEP David LEGA.

2. MEP Sylvie GUILLAUME.

3. MEP Dietmar KÖSTER.

5. MEP Nora MEBAREK.

6. MEP Bettina VOLLATH.

7. MEP Sabrina PIGNEDOLI.

8. MEP Michal ŠIMEČKA.

9. MEP Oezlem DEMIREL.

10. MEP Alexandra BAERTL.

11. MEP Ivan STEFANEC.

12. MEP Alice KUHNKE.

13. MEP Fabio Massimo CASTALDO.

14. MEP Piernicola PEDICINI.

15. MEP Terry REINTKE.

16. MEP Evin INCIR.

17. MEP Heidi HAUTALA.

18. MEP Birgit SIPPEL.

19. MEP Thierry MARIANI.

20. MEP Fulvio MARTUSCIELLO.

21. MEP Tiziana BEGHIN.