The Paris Tribunal has begun an investigation into charges of torture against Interpol President Major General Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates.
Matthew Hedges and Ali Issa Ahmad, two British citizens who were arrested in the UAE before al-Raisi was elected president of the France-based world police agency, will testify against him at the Paris Tribunal’s Specialized Judicial Unit for Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes on Wednesday, according to their lawyers.
In October of last year, the two Britons filed a criminal complaint against al-Raisi with the Paris Tribunal’s prosecutors, using the concept of universal jurisdiction.
They filed a criminal complaint with the Tribunal’s judges in January, requesting that a probe into allegations against al-Raisi be opened.
In October of last year, the two Britons filed a criminal complaint against al-Raisi with the Paris Tribunal’s prosecutors, using the concept of universal jurisdiction.
They filed a criminal complaint with the Tribunal’s judges in January, requesting that a probe into allegations against al-Raisi be opened.
Hedges was a PhD student in the UAE when he was arrested for spying and imprisoned for nearly seven months in 2018. He claimed he was tortured and detained in solitary confinement for long periods of time without access to a lawyer.
Ahmad claims he was detained and abused by UAE security officers while in the Gulf country for the 2019 Asian Cup football tournament.
“An open investigation should lead to al-incarceration Raisi’s for questioning while he is next on French territory,” said Rodney Dixon, the British international barrister.
In 1980, Al-Raisi joined the Emirati police service and remained there for decades. In April 2015, he was appointed Inspector General of the UAE Interior Ministry.