Hakeem Al Araibi
Radha Stirling, an international extradition expert and CEO of Detained in Dubai, commented that “in 2015, Interpol announced that they would not consider any listing request pertaining to an asylum seeker or refugee requested by the country from which they had fled. Thus, Bahrain’s request for a Red Notice against Araibi should have been initially rejected. It is Interpol’s responsibility to ensure that their rules are adhered to, especially regarding Red and Blue Notices. Araibi is a refugee who was granted asylum by Australia. According to Interpol’s internal protocols, he should have been immune from a Red Notice request by Bahrain.”
Read more of "Hakeem Al Araibi and the Pressing Case for Interpol Reform" at Albawba
“Middle Eastern countries notoriously push for full extradition trials, even where they are fully aware that they will lose such a request. They do this as a means to punish individuals like Hakeem, to set an example to other would-be activists, or to show their power to gulf allies. In some instances, they simply do not wish to admit that the request was wrong or that they have flaws in their own judicial process, or admit they engaged in Interpol abuse. Middle Eastern countries often vacillate between allying themselves with Western interests or rallying the support of gulf neighbours. Bahrain does not wish to lose face amongst their Arab friends”. Radha Stirling, CEO and founder of Detained in Dubai
More information at the Detained in Dubai website