Ahmed Nasser A.-R./Interpol

Type of liability
Personne physique

Alleged perpetrator(s)
Ahmed Nasser A-R.

Nationality of alleged perpetrator(s)
Emirati

Legal classification of crime(s)
Arbitrary detention
Torture and acts of barbarity"

Source of the complaint
NGO
Victims

Ongoing proceedings
oui

Regime
2 - 689-1 CPP

Summary of facts

Ahmed Nasser A.-R. had served since 2015 as Inspector General of the Ministry of the Interior of the United Arab Emirates, before being appointed Director of Interpol in 2021.

In this capacity, he allegedly arbitrarily detained and tortured two British nationals, Matthew Hedges and Ali Issa Ahmad, in 2018 and 2019. He also allegedly detained and tortured Ahmed Mansoor, one of the leading Emirati political opponents. The latter was arrested in 2017 and sentenced in 2018 to 10 years’ imprisonment for publicly criticizing the Emirati authorities.

Amnesty International France recalls that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Legal proceedings

June 7, 2021: The Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) files a complaint for “arbitrary detention” and “torture.” 
October 1, 2021: Matthew Hedges and Ali Issa Ahmad file a complaint for “arbitrary detention” and “torture.” 
Both complaints will be dropped because the suspect is not present on French territory. 
As the presence of Ahmed Nasser A.-R. in France is established and following the renewal of the complaints, a judicial investigation is opened in May 2022 for “complicity in torture.”