Guide

Article 3: political neutrality

Article 3 of INTERPOL's Constitution forbids the Organization from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.

• INTERPOL's Constitution forbids any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character, and INTERPOL says non compliant notices are not published.^1,2
• In a 2023 decision excerpt, the CCF assessed whether a case was predominantly political by weighing the person's status, the nature of the offence and the person's alleged involvement, and the general context.³
• In that decision the CCF found the data compliant and said the applicant's concerns about risks on return may rather constitute potential bars to extradition for national courts to decide.³
• In 2021 INTERPOL refused a third Indian request concerning preacher Zakir Naik, and earlier reasoning cited by the press said acting on a request about a religious figure could appear to take a side on religion.⁴

Sources

1. INTERPOL, Background Note: Information System Safeguards for the Exchange of Personal Data (undated (post October 2019))
2. INTERPOL, About Notices (2026)
3. INTERPOL CCF, 2023 Decision Excerpt No 4: Purpose, description of criminal activities, political character (2023)
4. The Financial Express (Bangladesh), Interpol refuses red notice against Zakir Naik for third time (1 May 2021)