Political Quotes

“this Saturday, the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as INTERPOL, will begin its annual General Assembly in Istanbul. INTERPOL is a vital global law enforcement network that helps police from different countries cooperate with each other to control crime. Unfortunately, it has also become a tool in the hands of despots and crooks who seek to punish dissidents and political opponents in an effort to turn other countries' law enforcement against the rule of law. Rooting out this sort of abuse should be the top priority going into the INTERPOL General Assembly. These abuses make a mockery of INTERPOL and are threatening its continued existence. INTERPOL's Constitution cites the universal declaration of human rights as the basis for police cooperation. Importantly and significantly, Article 3 of that declaration forbids INTERPOL from engaging in any ``activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.'' All 194 member nations have committed to uphold Article 3 and the entire INTERPOL Constitution. So it is troubling--as a matter of fact, it is even worse than troubling; it is egregious--that INTERPOL chose to host this year's General Assembly in Turkey, a country that has become one of the worst abusers of INTERPOL's Red Notice and Blue Notice systems. Turkey has repeatedly weaponized INTERPOL to persecute and arrest government critics on politically motivated charges. Journalist Can Dundar is a prime example. Mr.…”