‘Dubai broke law.. ..they can’t run Interpol’
‘Hacked’ human rights lawyer furious over country’s job bid
AN ALLEGED victim of the Dubai hacking scandal has demanded the United Arab Emirates is barred from a key role at Interpol, saying: “They have broken the law – do we want them running the world’s police force?”
Major General Ahmed Naser al-raisi is among the favourites to become President of Interpol next month. He has previously been inspector general at the UAE Interior Ministry, meaning he was responsible for investigating complaints against the police and security forces. Last week, a damning High Court judgement found that the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-maktoum, was likely to have authorised the use of hi-tech Israeli spyware to hack the phone of his estranged wife and her legal team.
The hacking was said to be part of a battle over their children’s futures, and saw a surveillance operation against Princess Haya bint al-hussein last summer.
The court found Sheikh Mohammed,
72, was “more probable than not” to have authorised the hacking using software licensed to the UAE government.
Agents using Pegasus software were able to monitor her phone, read her messages and emails and access her photos. The Sheikh has also been accused of abducting a second daughter, Princess Latifa, as she tried to flee, and holding her hostage in Dubai. The high profile case led to international outrage, and she has since reportedly been freed.
David Haigh, a human rights lawyer who worked with Latifa and who had his own phone hacked, said he was launching litigation against the UAE.
And he said this week’s revelations should spell an end to the UAE’S ambitions at Interpol.
He said: “Do we want Dubai in charge of the world’s police force, a couple of weeks after the ruler is found to have broken laws in Europe?
“The Sheikh tends to say it’s a private family matter, but he’s the ruler of that state. If he has instigated people subordinate to
him to do this, there’s no stopping him. I wouldn’t feel safe travelling if they are in charge of Interpol. They can stop anyone in any country – whoever they want, wherever they want.”
Mr Haigh said his own phone was hacked last summer while working with Panorama on a documentary about Latifa.
He said he noticed he was being followed as he was heading for a meeting in London with Princess Haya’s legal team.
He said: “I was followed by a woman, tall, leggy and blonde – she looked like Nicole Kidman.
“I’d had a hospital appointment and she was waiting outside, taking pictures.
“I got a taxi to Covent Garden and the same woman was there, following me.” It was only much later that Amnesty revealed his phone had been hacked, he said.
Mr Haigh has instructed lawyers to sue the state following the alleged hack. Other Britons have joined the legal action.
The Sheikh said: “These matters concern supposed operations of state security.
“As a head of government involved in private family proceedings, it was not appropriate for me to provide evidence on such sensitive matters. Neither the Emirate of Dubai nor the UAE are party to these proceedings and they did not participate in the hearing.
The findings are inevitably based on an incomplete picture.”
He has always denied the kidnapping and detention of Latifa.
The state has previously said claims of hacking are untrue.
Interpol said: “The role of president is primarily an honorary one, as the person remains a full-time official with their national authority. The judicial case is unrelated to Interpol’s activities.”
The new president will require a two thirds majority from
the 194 members of Interpol.