Choosing the Right Leader for INTERPOL: A Critical Decision

INTERPOL is at a crossroads. The organization, which connects police forces worldwide, is about to pick its next leader. This isn't just about a fancy title; it's about keeping INTERPOL honest and effective. One candidate, Turkey's Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. A secret document shows he gave advice on how to bend INTERPOL's rules to go after a human rights lawyer. The memo is clear. It shows Sabanca suggesting that Turkish officials change a political case into a financial crime case. Why? Because INTERPOL has rules against political cases. This isn't just a guess or a theory. It's a real plan to trick the system. If Sabanca becomes president, it would be like letting a rule-breaker run the rules. Turkey's track record makes this even more worrying. The country has been using INTERPOL's Red Notice system to go after political opponents. Since a failed coup in 2016, Turkey has sent over 3, 500 requests to find and extradite people linked to the Gülen movement. These aren't real crimes. They're political vendettas dressed up as law enforcement. The memo shows that Sabanca is part of this system. He advised on how to hide the real reason for an extradition request. This is a pattern. Dissent is called fraud. Opposition is called organized crime. Journalism is called terrorism. The goal is always the same: to make political persecution look like regular police work. The human cost is real. The lawyer targeted in the memo is now safe in Belgium. But if Sabanca becomes president, he could put more people at risk. INTERPOL's neutrality is what keeps dissidents, refugees, and exiles safe. Sabanca's election would put that safety in danger. Democratic countries would also pay a price. INTERPOL works because people trust it. They trust that Red Notices are for real crimes. They trust that leaders follow the rules. If Sabanca becomes president, that trust could disappear. Judges might doubt. Border officers might hesitate. Countries might stop cooperating. The only winners would be criminals. This isn't just about one person. It's about whether INTERPOL can stay true to its mission. Member states have a big choice to make. They can stop a mistake or let it happen. The credibility of INTERPOL and the safety of many people depend on this decision.