Interpol has elected as its president a military general from the United Arab Emirates who has been accused by rights groups of allowing torture.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi was elected on Thursday during the international police organisation's general assembly in Istanbul.
"Mr Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates has been elected to the post of president (4-yr term)," Interpol announced on its Twitter account.
Al-Raisi has been accused of torture and arbitrary detention in the UAE by rights groups, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Last year, HRW and several other international human rights and civil society groups sent a letter to Interpol's secretary general, Juergen Stock, expressing concern over al-Raisi's potential election.
The HRW cited "allegations of serious abuse" under al-Raisi's command "particularly against peaceful critics of government policies".
Al-Raisi has criminal complaints lodged against him in France and Turkey, among others.
Australian Associated Press
