A Syrian Refugee Trapped by a Politically Motivated Red Notice
In the early hours of December 28, 2024, Mohamad Alkayali, a Syrian refugee who has lived legally in Turkiye since 2014, was arrested by Turkish authorities based on an INTERPOL Red Notice issued by Saudi Arabia in January 2016.
Today, Alkayali faces imminent deportation to Saudi Arabia, a country he has not set foot in for over 12 years—a deportation that could put his life and freedom at grave risk.
The notice, allegedly tied to an offense that lacks critical details such as time, place, or any evidence, raises significant concerns over the weaponization of INTERPOL’s system to silence political dissenters.
Alkayali’s case is not unique. It is yet another example of how authoritarian regimes exploit INTERPOL to pursue opponents, dissidents, and refugees.
The Story of Alkayali: A Life of Exile and Harassment
Alkayali spent several years working in Saudi Arabia as an IT consultant. However, when the Syrian revolution began in 2011, he became a vocal critic of the Assad regime and an advocate for Syrian refugees, particularly those facing difficult conditions in Saudi Arabia due to restrictive policies. He spoke out against Saudi Arabia’s refusal to grant Syrian refugees asylum and its imposition of monthly fees under the “visitor” status, which placed additional hardships on those fleeing war. His outspoken views and activism on social media led to increasing harassment. Fearing for his safety and freedom, Alkayali left Saudi Arabia in early 2013 and sought refuge in Turkiye in 2014. Since then, he has never left the country and has never violated Turkish laws.
Alkayali believed that leaving Saudi Arabia would grant him safety and the freedom to express his opinions and he became more vocal in his criticism of the Saudi government. He openly challenged its human rights record and regional policies, using his newfound platform to advocate for change. This heightened activism drew even greater scrutiny from Saudi authorities, escalating their hostility towards him and making him an even more prominent target of political repression.
The Instrumentalization of INTERPOL by Saudi Arabia
Not too long ago, Alkayali discovered that an INTERPOL Red Notice had been issued against him. The request was made by Saudi authorities in January 2016—four years after he had left the country—accusing him of an offense punishable by a maximum of three years in prison under Saudi law. The timing of the notice and its vague nature strongly suggest political motivation rather than legitimate criminal prosecution.
Recognizing the unjust nature of the notice, Alkayali formally challenged it with INTERPOL, making it clear that the charges were politically motivated. He is still awaiting a response, yet his arrest in Turkiye—despite this pending challenge—raises serious concerns about the misuse of INTERPOL’s system. His detention also comes at a time of geopolitical shifts in the region, particularly the fall of the Assad regime to radical Islamist groups, further complicating the fate of displaced Syrians like Alkayali, who now find themselves in even greater uncertainty.
Additionally, it has been revealed that Saudi authorities requested INTERPOL to keep the Red Notice confidential, ensuring that it would not appear on INTERPOL’s public webpage. This lack of transparency conceals the true intent behind the notice and prevents independent scrutiny. Normally, Red Notices that are not published involve cases related to terrorism or organized crime, yet Alkayali’s alleged offense is neither, further reinforcing suspicions that the case is politically motivated rather than a genuine criminal matter.
Legal Flaws and Human Rights Violations
Alkayali’s arrest is based on an INTERPOL Red Notice that fails to meet basic legal requirements. The notice violates INTERPOL’s own rules, particularly:
- Article 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution – which strictly prohibits the organization from intervening in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial nature. Given Alkayali’s history of political activism, it is evident that this notice is being used as a tool of transnational repression.
- Article 83 of INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data – which mandates that Red Notices must contain sufficient judicial data, including the time and place of the alleged crime. The Saudi request fails to specify these essential details, making it legally invalid under INTERPOL’s own guidelines.
- Penalty Threshold Violation – According to INTERPOL rules, an offense must carry a minimum two-year sentence for a Red Notice to be issued. The Saudi law in question allows for a punishment of either a fine or a prison sentence, meaning Alkayali could have legally been punished with only a fine—making the issuance of a Red Notice a misuse of INTERPOL’s system.
Beyond these legal flaws, Alkayali’s detention and potential deportation also violate international human rights principles, including his right to seek asylum and protection from persecution. If sent to Saudi Arabia, he could face imprisonment, mistreatment, or worse due to his political views.
The Weaponization of INTERPOL: A Growing Global Problem
Alkayali’s case is not an isolated incident. INTERPOL’s Red Notice system has been systematically abused by authoritarian governments to harass dissidents, refugees, and human rights activists. Organizations like Fair Trials and the European Parliament have repeatedly warned that INTERPOL lacks effective safeguards against politically motivated notices.
In 2019, the European Parliament published a study highlighting that INTERPOL’s vetting process remains inconsistent and that refugees and political dissidents continue to appear in Red Notice databases despite clear evidence of abuse. Alkayali’s case is yet another example of this failure of due process, leaving him vulnerable to extradition and persecution.
A Plea for Urgent Legal Assistance in Turkiye
Alkayali’s family are seeking help from Turkish lawyers, human rights organizations, and the international legal community to:
- Challenge the legality of his detention under Turkish law, given the procedural flaws in the Red Notice.
- Prevent his deportation to Saudi Arabia, ensuring that he is protected under international human rights treaties.
- Raise his case with the Turkish judiciary and human rights bodies, advocating for his immediate release.
- Engage the Turkish media to bring public awareness to his case, increasing pressure on authorities to uphold justice.
Justice Must Prevail
Alkayali is not a criminal—he is a refugee and political dissident whose only “crime” is opposing tyranny and advocating for human rights. His case is a stark reminder of how authoritarian states manipulate international legal mechanisms to silence their critics beyond their borders.
If INTERPOL’s credibility is to be preserved, urgent reforms are needed to prevent further abuses of its Red Notice system. But for now, Alkayali’s life hangs in the balance. His wife urges Turkish legal professionals, human rights defenders, and the international community to stand up against this miscarriage of justice and demand his immediate release.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is time for action.
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First published in this link of The European Times.
