Emirati head of Interpol to face legal action over torture

In 2019, Ali Issa Ahmad, a British football fan, traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support his team during the Asian Cup. However, his trip turned into a nightmare when he was arrested and allegedly tortured for wearing a Qatar jersey. Now, Mr. Ahmad has been granted permission by the High Court in London to pursue legal action against Maj. Gen. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, the former inspector general of the UAE Ministry of Interior and current president of Interpol, among six other officials.

“This lawsuit raises important questions about the responsibilities of state officials and the role of international organizations in promoting human rights and the rule of law,” says Radha Stirling, CEO and Founder of Detained in Dubai, the first organisation to draw attention to Ahmad’s ordeal in the UAE when it occurred, “It will be up to the court to answer these questions, which is progress in and of itself. Perhaps a conclusive legal ruling will finally give weight and substance to the concept of accountability, instead of it just being used as a buzzword by governments and institutions that never actually implement it.”

The current case against Al-Raisi is not the first time he has faced allegations of human rights abuses. In 2011, the United Nations Committee against Torture received a report on allegations of torture and ill-treatment in UAE detention centres, with specific reference to Al-Raisi's role in overseeing these facilities. The report stated that "the Committee is concerned about the absence of a response by the State party to the allegations against Maj. Gen. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, former head of the Criminal Investigation Department."