Egypt's ruling military council has received another international setback after Interpol rejected its request to put a dozen American pro-democracy workers on arrest notices.
The France-based Interpol said in a statement Monday that it would not call on member countries to arrest those requested by Egypt, noting that the organization doesn't get involved in politically motivated cases.
Foreign and Egyptian NGO workers were charged with receiving illegal foreign funds after security raids on several organizations' offices in December. An Egyptian court order in late February allowed the foreign workers to leave the country.
Earlier this month, the National Journal reported that the US had urged Interpol to reject an Egyptian request to arrest the American workers because they are on trial in Egypt.
There was no formal news from Egypt about its request to Interpol to issue formal Red Notices for 12 American workers, as well as two Lebanese and one Jordanian.
Interpol said that it has refused a request by Egyptian authorities to issue Red Notices, or international wanted persons alerts, for 15 individuals with links to several US-based NGOs after deciding it would violate the organization's regulations.
It added that the "request is not in conformity with Interpol's rules … under which it is 'strictly forbidden for the organization to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.'"
But Interpol seems aware that its decision might not please Egypt.
"In refusing Egypt's request for these Red Notices, Interpol has respected its rules and regulations, however there has been much ill-informed speculation about this case and Interpol's role.
"This is not the first time that misleading and erroneous information has been circulated by individuals and organizations looking to further their own agenda or raise their profile on the back of false allegations made against Interpol," the police organization said.
