China’s nominee wins Interpol seat despite concerns of human rights groups

The candidacy of Hu Binchen, an official in the Chinese public security ministry, was also opposed by alliance of lawmakers from 20 countries

Election helps China use global policing body for repressive policies, endangering Hongkonger, Uygur, Tibetan, Taiwanese and Chinese dissidents, alliance says

Reading Time:2 minutes

Critics of the Interpol appointments said trust in the policing body would be eroded. Photo: AP

Published: 10:15pm, 25 Nov 2021Updated: 2:26am, 26 Nov 2021

A Chinese government official has been elected to an oversight role at global crime-fighting body Interpol despite opposition from rights groups and lawmakers from 20 countries.

Hu Binchen, deputy director general of the Chinese public security ministry’s international coordination department, on Thursday won one of two seats representing Asia on the body’s executive committee, Interpol said.

The incoming president was also elected during Interpol’s general assembly this week, with United Arab Emirates’ Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi winning the role, the global agency said. Praveen Sinha of India won the other Asia seat.

The elections of Hu and al-Raisi have disappointed human rights groups and lawmakers who campaigned against their candidacies because of alleged human rights abuses by their respective countries.

01:09

China says asylum for ex-Interpol president’s family is ‘complete misuse’ of French law

“It is sad to see Interpol’s member states putting a fox in charge of watching the sheep,” said Peter Dahlin, co-founder and director of human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders.