Interpol accused of helping dictators catch innocent dissidents fleeing abroad

Dictators are abusing international police organisation, Interpol, in a bid to have dissidents returned to their country simply because they disagree with what they say.

Campaigners believe that some countries are abusing a 'red notice' system and they want to see it overhauled so that Interpol is more accountable and prevent activists from facing torture.

In a landmark court action they want to make it easier for political activists and dissidents to appeal against red notices - issued for murderers and paedophiles - that have been put against their name just because a certain country doesn't agree with them.
Campaign group Fair Trials International says that once a person is listed on Interpol's red notice list after a request from a country's police service, it is very difficult to have their name removed.

Jago Russell, chief executive of FTI, said: 'The reason we are working on it is the fact that once you are on this system, there's very little you can do about it.

'There's no court to go to, so there are cases that people have been arrested time and time again.

'One of the very frustrating things is there's very little you can do.You can write to a court commission, but it's very difficult to get the red notice removed.

'[Interpol] is a very secretive organisation and we are currently looking for cases to demonstrate who they work and to look at bringing a legal challenge to look at how Interpol is above legal challenge.

'People's lives have been turned upside down by it and hopefully we can make member countries come up with solutions to create more accountability.'