Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the recent appointment Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi as President of Interpol in the context of the UAE’s human rights record.

The UK Government reviewed all candidates for the presidency of INTERPOL and considered our vote carefully in advance of the elections. We are committed to the promotion of universal freedoms and human rights and we encourage all states, including the United Arab Emirates, to uphold international human rights obligations.

Proportionate due diligence is undertaken into individuals seeking election to the role of INTERPOL President. In the run up to the elections at the General Assembly, officials from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the National Crime Agency were in regular contact with international counterparts. The decision on who to support was based on a thorough assessment of the merits of each candidate.