INTERPOL confirms that it has NOT been involved in the case involving Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari arrested in Malaysia and deported to Saudi Arabia. No INTERPOL channels, neither its National Central Bureaus in Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh nor its General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France were involved at any time in this case.
Since INTERPOL has not been involved, any reference to a Red Notice tied to this case is entirely false and a total misrepresentation of the facts.
Consequently, in the interest of accuracy, fairness and balance, INTERPOL asks all news outlets which have referred to INTERPOL as being involved to correct and update their copy and archives in order to accurately reflect the facts.
Furthermore, INTERPOL calls on organizations which have publicly and actively commented in the media to erroneously imply involvement by INTERPOL based on false information relating to this case to make a full retraction. We would encourage all media and organizations to always contact INTERPOL in order to ascertain the facts before making any statements.
Statement from the INTERPOL General Secretariat – 13 February, 2012