Despite the concerns of human rights organisations and members of the European Parliament, an Emirati general accused of torture was chosen president of Interpol on Thursday. General Al-Raisi, the leader of the UAE’s security forces, will mostly serve in a ceremonial and voluntary capacity.
Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock is in charge of the organization’s day-to-day operations. In 2019, Stock was appointed a second five-year term. In recent months, complaints of “torture” have been lodged against the Emirati general in France and Turkey, which is holding Interpol’s general conference this week in Istanbul.
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The nomination comes after the UAE provided considerable money to Interpol, located in Lyon, France, and charges that Abu Dhabi has utilised Interpol’s system of “red alerts” for wanted persons to punish political dissidents.
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Three members of the European Parliament wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on November 11 to express their concern over the general’s appointment’s influence on Interpol. In October 2020, 19 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Human Rights Watch, raised worry over Raisi’s likely appointment, describing him as “part of a security apparatus that continues to systematically persecute nonviolent dissidents.”
