What Is a Red Notice and Why Is It Important to Request Its Suspension?
An Interpol Red Notice is an international alert issued to indicate that a person is wanted by a country for prosecution or extradition. However, it is not a formal arrest warrant, and in many cases, it is possible to request the suspension of the Interpol Red Notice, preventing the immediate arrest of the person involved.
A Red Notice is not a binding arrest warrant but an international request that may lead to arrest in Interpol member countries. Its purpose is to notify authorities of other States that a person is wanted.
It is not mandatory and does not guarantee immediate arrest.
Requesting the suspension of a Red Notice is a key step in protecting one’s freedom, as it:
- Prevents immediate arrest in Interpol member countries
- Allows time to prepare a legal defense and challenge the validity of the alert
- Protects the individual’s fundamental rights, reducing the risk of arbitrary detention
How to Request a Suspension?
Suspension of a Red Notice is possible through the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF), the body responsible for reviewing requests for suspension and deletion of notices.
Steps to request the suspension of a Red Notice:
- Verification of listing: The first step is to request confirmation from the CCF as to whether the individual’s name is listed in the Interpol database
- Submission of the suspension request: The person’s lawyer must demonstrate that the Red Notice violates Interpol’s Constitution — for example, if issued for political, military, religious, or racial reasons, or if it infringes on fundamental human rights
- Supporting documentation: Concrete evidence must be provided, such as court decisions, reports from international NGOs (e.g., Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch), and case law from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) demonstrating the rights violations
- Outcome of the request: If the CCF accepts the request, the Red Notice is suspended, avoiding immediate arrest while awaiting a final decision on its deletion
Grounds for Immediate Suspension
The CCF may grant the suspension of a Red Notice under various conditions, including:
- Violation of Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution: If the Red Notice was issued for political, military, religious, or racial reasons
- Risk of unfair trial: If the person risks torture or inhuman treatment in the requesting country, in violation of Articles 3 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- False or insufficient evidence: If the Red Notice is based on unverifiable or misleading evidence
- Violation of the non-refoulement principle: If the person risks persecution or serious human rights violations in the requesting country