Interpol should ban Syria issue ‘Red Notice’

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has recently allowed Syria to rejoin its communications network after it had issued a decision to suspend Syria in 2012 when the war started; barred Syria from sending or receiving messages through the organization.

Syria has been a member in Interpol since June 29, 1953 and the National Central Bureau (NCB) is in the capital Damascus.

The reinstatement of Syria into Interpol database exposes Syrian refugees, activists and civilian opposition figures worldwide to imminent danger since the Syrian government would be able to issue arrest warrants “red notice” against its dissidents.

Since the start of the war in 2011, about six million Syrians have fled across borders and sought asylum in other countries, mostly in Europe.

The Red Notice, if applicable, means that the host countries will extradite opposition figures who applied for asylum. As a result, the Syrian government is likely to detain, torture, or execute the extradited opponents.

According to Interpol, the 194 member countries can issue “Red Notice” for wanted individuals who live on their soil who should be extradited to their homeland.

On October 25, Paulo Pinheiro, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, stated at a committee meeting the UN General Assembly in New York “this is not a time for anyone to be thinking that Syria is safe.”