Contesting an INTERPOL Arrest in Germany
The lawyers challenged the erroneous registration in the INTERPOL database, which led to the client’s release from unlawful detention and the termination of extradition.
Case Overview
A Ukrainian citizen reached out for urgent legal assistance after her husband, a Palestinian national, was unexpectedly arrested in Germany due to an INTERPOL alert. The couple had been living in Denmark under protection status (§2) for five months, during which both INTERPOL and immigration authorities had cleared him with no records found in any databases. However, after crossing into Germany on July 3, her husband was detained the following day and has remained in custody for three months without clear information on the reasons for his arrest.
The client was particularly distressed by the lack of transparency, as the appointed lawyer was not providing any updates on the case. Additionally, the German consulate in Ukraine confirmed a rise in wrongful INTERPOL listings, raising concerns that her husband may have been added to the database by mistake or due to an Interpol Diffusion Notice, which is often issued without prior verification. The client sought immediate legal intervention to challenge the arrest, obtain clarity on the charges, and secure his release.
Contesting a Potentially Wrongful INTERPOL Listing
Our legal team conducted a comprehensive review of the case, addressing the following key issues:
- Verifying the INTERPOL alert – Determining whether it was a Red Notice or a Diffusion Notice, the latter being particularly prone to errors and not requiring full legal scrutiny before circulation.
- Assessing the legality of the arrest under German and international law, ensuring that due process was followed.
- Requesting official documents from German authorities and INTERPOL’s General Secretariat to confirm the source of the request and identify potential errors.
- Filing a challenge with INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) to request the removal of the notice if it was found to be unjustified or based on unreliable evidence.
- Engaging in diplomatic efforts through the German and Palestinian consulates to expedite the legal process and prevent an unnecessary extradition request.
Given that INTERPOL notices are often used improperly, especially in politically sensitive cases, it was crucial to ensure that Germany did not process an extradition request without due diligence.
Result
Following intense legal advocacy, our team was able to obtain confirmation that the INTERPOL alert was based on unverified information and had been improperly used to detain the client’s husband. After presenting legal arguments against the legitimacy of the notice and highlighting due process violations, the German authorities released the detainee and discontinued extradition proceedings.This case underscores the importance of challenging wrongful INTERPOL notices and ensuring that individuals are not detained based on unverified or politically motivated alerts. Our firm continues to assist clients facing international extradition risks, providing expert legal guidance in contesting INTERPOL notices and preventing unlawful detentions.
