INTERPOL (the International Criminal Police Organization) is an international law enforcement organisation comprising 195 member countries, including Türkiye. Its purpose is to facilitate the exchange of information between law enforcement authorities, strengthen international cooperation in combating crime, and coordinate cross-border efforts concerning wanted persons.

Misuse of INTERPOL Notices for Political Purposes

In recent years, numerous international reports have documented the misuse of INTERPOL mechanisms by certain states to target political opponents, journalists, academics, and members of civil society.

A significant number of Red Notice and Diffusion requests originating from Türkiye have been criticised because they:

are not based on genuine criminal conduct;

are linked to individuals’ political opinions, exercise of freedom of expression, or perceived affiliations; and

may directly affect a person’s freedom of movement, access to financial services, and personal security.

Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution: The Prohibition of Political Activities

Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution provides in clear terms:

“It is strictly forbidden for the Organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.”

Accordingly, notices of a political nature are incompatible with INTERPOL’s constitutional framework and may be:

deleted;

corrected; or

challenged through an access request before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF).

What You Will Find in This Guide

This guide has been prepared for individuals who have been forced to leave their country or who may be at risk of becoming the subject of an INTERPOL notice.

The following sections explain:

How INTERPOL operates;

How politically motivated notices originating from Türkiye can be identified;

What to do if you are the subject of a Red Notice or a Diffusion;

The CCF application procedure, evidence-gathering strategies, and sample petitions; and

The potential impact of INTERPOL records on visas, international travel, banking services, and immigration status.

Our Purpose

Our objective is to make international legal remedies more accessible, strengthen effective legal protection against politically motivated INTERPOL notices, and help prevent inaccurate or unlawful records from undermining an individual’s liberty, reputation, and security.

Important Reminder

INTERPOL is not a court of law.

However, if appropriate legal action is not taken in a timely manner, an inaccurate or politically motivated INTERPOL record may remain in place for years and have far-reaching consequences for virtually every aspect of an individual’s personal and professional life.

For that reason, timely and well-prepared legal action is often the most effective means of protecting your rights.