INTERPOL Must Not Elect One of Its Chief Abusers As Its Next President | Opinion

INTERPOL's leadership is about to elect its next president, and it has never been more crucial that the choice be made with integrity intact. As delegates from 196 member countries gather for this pivotal election, a stark reality emerges: one of the frontrunners, Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, Turkey's police chief, has been implicated in manipulating INTERPOL's rules to further his country's interests.

A leaked memo showing Sabanca advising Turkish officials on how to disguise a politically motivated case as an embezzlement matter raises serious questions about his fitness for the top job. The document outlines a straightforward plan to deceive INTERPOL's systems and avoid detection, effectively subverting the organization's own rules. This is not a minor infraction but a clear indication of Sabanca's willingness to erode the neutrality that underpins INTERPOL's authority.

Turkey's record on abuse of its Red Notice system, used for international arrest requests aimed at targeting political opponents abroad, makes this development particularly concerning. The country has submitted over 3,500 such requests since the 2016 coup attempt, using these tools as a means to pursue perceived enemies rather than genuine suspects. This is an abuse of power that must not be condoned.

Sancara's candidacy poses a threat to the global policing system and its most valuable asset - trust. INTERPOL relies on the assumption that Red Notices represent genuine criminal activity, that leaders uphold the organization's constitution, and that political neutrality holds meaning. If Sabanca is elected as president, these assumptions will be undermined.

The implications extend beyond Turkey's borders, affecting not only dissidents, refugees, and exiles but also democratic states. The erosion of trust in INTERPOL could lead to hesitation from judges, border officers, and even states withdrawing cooperation. In reality, it would benefit authoritarian governments seeking to manipulate the system for their own purposes.

In this critical moment, member states must come together to prevent a profound error that would send a troubling message to those who exploit the system for their advantage. The election of Sabanca would be an unambiguous endorsement of manipulation over integrity and would undermine INTERPOL's legitimacy forever.

This is not just about governance; it is about upholding the principles of trust, impartiality, and accountability. In the face of such a choice, member states must prioritize these values above all else. The credibility of INTERPOL and the safety of those relying on its services demand nothing less than the selection of leaders who embody integrity and neutrality.

Ultimately, the stakes are clear: electing Sabanca would spell disaster for an organization that prides itself on acting as a guardian of global policing. But electing someone who shares the values of trust, impartiality, and accountability will ensure that INTERPOL remains relevant and effective in safeguarding our world from those who exploit its systems for personal gain.

I'm getting all this drama about Sabanca's candidacy and it reminds me of when Trump was running for president back in 2016 ... or should I say, Erdogan? Anyway, what really got my goat is that this guy Sabanca has been accused of manipulating INTERPOL rules to serve his country's interests. Like, isn't that just a fancy way of saying he's being a total puppet master? I mean, who needs integrity and neutrality when you can have "getting the job done" right? And let's not forget Turkey's history with their Red Notice system... it's like they're playing some kind of geopolitical whack-a-mole game . In all seriousness though, this is a huge deal and I just hope member states come together to make the right choice . We need someone who's gonna uphold the values of trust and accountability, not someone who's gonna let their country's interests cloud their judgment

can't believe this dude sabanca is even in the running his country's got some serious shady history with using interpol as a tool to silence opponents, like 3k+ red notices submitted since 2016? what kinda integrity are we talking about here? if he gets elected it'll be game over for global trust and basically anyone who's not on turkey's good list

omg what a huge deal this is like how can you have integrity as police chief when you're manipulating rules to help your country? i mean turkey has already abused their red notice system so much it's crazy, using it to target political opponents abroad is not okay at all . and now sancara is a frontrunner for interpol's presidency? that's just a huge red flag . if he gets elected it would be like undermining trust in the whole organization and let's be real, that would affect so many people all over the world . what if authoritarian governments start using this to their advantage? it's not just about governance, it's about doing the right thing and upholding values like impartiality and accountability . can't we just have someone who's all about keeping it real and not playing politics with the system?

The current candidate, Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, is a major red flag for the role of INTERPOL president . A leaked memo showing his involvement in manipulating rules to serve Turkey's interests? That's a serious breach of trust and integrity. Turkey's history with abuse of its Red Notice system is concerning enough, but if Sabanca gets elected, it'll be like shooting himself in the foot... or should I say, INTERPOL . The thought of him undermining the organization's neutrality and eroding trust in the global policing system is terrifying. We need someone who prioritizes fairness and accountability above all else . This election can't come soon enough!

This is a pretty major red flag when it comes to Mustafa Serkan Sabanca's candidacy. I mean, manipulating INTERPOL's rules to help his own country? That's not just shady, it's serious business. And considering Turkey's history with abuse of the Red Notice system, it's like they're playing with fire here.

The thing is, if Sabanca gets elected, it could have huge implications for trust in the global policing system. Think about it - if leaders are willing to bend or break the rules just to further their own interests, what's to stop others from doing the same? It's a slippery slope, and I really don't want to see where it leads.

I'm not saying Sabanca is definitely out of the running (yet!), but it's clear that he needs to answer some serious questions about his fitness for the job. The integrity of INTERPOL is at stake here, and if we let this happen, it could be a disaster. We need leaders who embody trust, impartiality, and accountability - not people who are willing to manipulate the system just to get ahead.

So yeah, I'm keeping an eye on this situation. It's time for member states to step up and make sure that INTERPOL is led by someone with integrity intact.

I'm really worried about this election . If Sabanca wins, it's like a slap in the face to everyone who relies on INTERPOL's integrity. I mean, can you imagine if your country was using its Red Notice system to hunt down people they don't like? It's a total abuse of power and undermines everything INTERPOL is supposed to stand for.

We need someone who's gonna keep it real, you know? Someone who'll make sure that the rules are followed and everyone plays by the same book. Not some dude who's willing to bend or break the law for his own country's interests. It's all about trust, man. If we lose that, we're all in trouble.

I'm talking to myself right now, but I'm not alone. There are millions of people around the world who rely on INTERPOL's services and need someone who'll protect them from abuse. So let's make some noise and demand better leadership from our global policing organization. We can't let Sabanca get his hands on that presidency

I'm getting really worried about this Sabanca guy . It's not just about him being police chief in Turkey, it's about the implications on the whole global policing system. I mean, think about it, if he becomes president of INTERPOL, it would be like a green light for countries to exploit the system for their own interests. And we're talking about innocent people, dissidents and refugees who just want to live in peace . The thought of Sabanca's country abusing Red Notice systems is already disturbing enough, but if he's elected to lead INTERPOL, it would be a disaster . We need to make sure that the integrity and neutrality of the organization are protected at all costs . It's time for us to take a stand and ensure that our global policing system remains trustworthy and accountable .

man this guy Sabanca is like a ticking time bomb he's got some serious skeletons in his closet and if he gets elected as head of interpol it's gonna be a total disaster the whole thing about turkey abusing their red notice system is wild they're basically using it to go after people who disagree with them its not just about governance its about upholding basic human rights so we gotta make sure that sabanca doesn't get away with this he needs to be held accountable for his actions and if that means he doesn't get elected then so be it

This is getting super suspicious! Like, how can you have a leader who's been accused of basically playing around with the rules? Mustafas background on this stuff is sketchy at best. And what's up with Turkey trying to use INTERPOL for their own dirty work? It makes total sense why people would be questioning his integrity - it's like, how can you have a clean slate when there's so much dirt being dug up?

I think the bigger picture here is that if Sabanca gets in, it's gonna send super bad vibes to other countries. They'll be all like "Hey, if they're okay with playing fast and loose, we might just do the same". And what about all the innocent people who get caught up in the crossfire? The thought of a global policing system being compromised because of one person's agenda is just terrifying.

I'm calling it: whoever runs against Sabanca has to be the real deal. They have to have values and principles that align with what INTERPOL is supposed to stand for. Can't let this guy's shady past and questionable motives taint the whole organization. We need integrity, transparency, and accountability - nothing less!

I'm totally against Mustafa Serkan Sabanca getting elected as INTERPOL's president . He's been caught red-handed trying to manipulate the system to suit Turkey's interests, which is a huge red flag . I mean, how can we trust him with the job when he's shown such blatant disregard for neutrality and integrity? The fact that he's got a history of abusing Turkey's Red Notice system to target perceived enemies is just plain worrying .

And let's not forget, this isn't just about Sabanca - it's about the values of trust, impartiality, and accountability that INTERPOL stands for . If we elect someone who doesn't share those values, what's next? It's a slippery slope, folks. We need to prioritize these values above all else if we want to maintain the credibility and effectiveness of our global policing organization .

Personally, I think there are some totally underrated candidates out there who would be way more suitable for the job . Let's not rush into this without carefully considering the implications of our choice . Sabanca might have the support of some Turkey officials, but is that really what we want from our INTERPOL president? I don't think so!

I'm super worried about this election . If Mustafa Serkan Sabanca becomes the president of INTERPOL, it's gonna be a total disaster . I mean, he's already got some major red flags against him - like that leaked memo showing how he manipulated INTERPOL's rules to serve Turkish interests . It's not just about him being a bad cop, it's about the implications for global policing as a whole .

I'm thinking about all those people who rely on INTERPOL's services, especially dissidents and refugees - they need to know that their Red Notices are genuine not some way for authoritarian governments to silence them . If Sabanca wins, it'll be like a green light for bad actors to exploit the system .

We gotta come together as member states to make sure we don't elect someone who's gonna undermine trust and accountability . It's all about upholding those values - impartiality, integrity, and transparency - or else INTERPOL loses its credibility forever . The stakes are high, but if we choose the right leader, INTERPOL can keep being a force for good in the world .

I'm super worried about this Sabanca guy getting elected . I mean, have you seen his track record on Turkey's Red Notice system? It's like they're using it to silence opposition and control people's lives. And now he wants to be the head of INTERPOL? No way, that's a recipe for disaster.

I don't trust him one bit . He's got history of manipulating rules and systems to serve his own country's interests. That memo leak was huge - it shows he's willing to bend (or break) the rules to suit himself. And what about all those other countries relying on INTERPOL for justice? If Sabanca gets in, they'll be putting their trust in someone who doesn't care about integrity or accountability.

We need leaders who are transparent and honest, not ones who will do whatever it takes to stay in power . The whole system of global policing relies on trust, and Sabanca's candidacy is a huge threat to that. We have to make sure we're not sacrificing our values for the sake of expediency. Let's keep our eyes peeled on this election and hope one of the other candidates comes forward who actually cares about doing things right

omg did u see dis?? Mustafa Serkan Sabanca is like a total risk 4 the top job at INTERPOL his country turkey has been using the red notice system to mess w/ ppl they dont like which is super shady & corrupt i cant believe hes even in the running need 2 ensure integrity & neutrality when choosing the next president or it'll ruin everything trust is key here

I don’t usually comment but I think it's wild that Sabanca is even a contender for the job . I mean, Turkey has had some serious issues with human rights and using INTERPOL as a tool to target opponents, so this just feels like more of the same. How can you trust someone who has been involved in all these shady dealings? It's not just about Sabanca himself, it's about the message he'd send if he were elected - that manipulation is okay as long as it serves your interests. That would be super damaging to the entire organization and the people who rely on it for help.