Duncan Lewis Successfully Challenges Interpol Red Notice to Prevent Extradition of UK-Recognised Refugee (24 July 2025)

Duncan Lewis Solicitors recently acted in a complex international case involving the attempted extradition of a UK-recognised refugee, who was arrested while on holiday in Albania due to an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Pakistan, a country that had already been found to pose a real risk of persecution against him.

Under Article 82 of Interpol’s Rules on the Processing of Data, the purpose of this notice is “to seek the location of a wanted person and his/her detention, arrest or restriction of movement for the purpose of extradition, surrender or similar lawful action”. Duncan Lewis was instructed the day after our client’s arrest. Our Public Law and Immigration teams, led by Tommaso Poli and Bahar Ata, immediately engaged with relevant UK and international authorities to coordinate a legal response. With the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCR) ‘good offices’, which refer to the diplomatic and humanitarian efforts undertaken by the UN Refugee Agency to resolve conflicts, legal representation was secured for our client in Albania. Close cooperation was established between the Albanian legal team, UNHCR, and Duncan Lewis to secure vital UK government intervention.

However, after weeks of correspondence and uncertainty regarding the outcome of the proceedings in Albania, an imminent risk of extradition loomed on our client’s future.

Duncan Lewis sought to challenge the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) failure to apply discretion, to request our client’s release, citing draft Article 8 of the Diplomatic Protection Convention and the UK’s responsibilities under international refugee law. We argued that, as a recognised refugee who was lawfully and habitually resident in the UK, our client was unable to seek protection from his country of nationality and was therefore entitled to UK diplomatic protection to avoid refoulement.

In parallel, we initiated the procedure to cancel the red notice. We submitted detailed legal representations to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s files (CCF) requesting the deletion from all of Interpol’s databases of any Notices and/or Diffusion concerning our client. We based our submissions primarily on our client’s refugee status and the related real risk of a serious violation of his basic human rights, if he had been extradited to Pakistan, and how this would have been in breach of the Interpol’s Constitution.

On 03 July 2025, the Interpol General Secretariat informed us that our client was no longer subject to a Notice or Diffusion. The Red Notice had been fully removed from all Interpol databases.

This case highlights the crucial intersection of international extradition law, refugee protection, and Interpol procedures. Duncan Lewis remains at the forefront of such complex cross-border legal challenges, using a combination of public international law, diplomatic pressure, and refugee law to protect the rights and safety of our clients. This case was instructed on in collaboration with Ben Keith of Five St Andrew’s Hill chambers.

About the Instructing Solicitors 

Bahar Ata, recommended for her expertise by The Legal 500 UK, has a niche practice in immigration and human rights related judicial review claimant matters, and also represents those detained under immigration powers, frequently bringing challenges against the SSHD for unlawful detention, claims of false imprisonment, and failures to provide accommodation. She has a varied practice representing clients in challenges against decisions involving trafficking, age assessments, and removals to third countries, with extensive experience representing clients at the High Court, Court of Appeal and at the Supreme Court.

For expert advice on any immigration or public law matter, call Bahar on 02070147398 or email at bahara@duncanlewis.com

Tommaso Poli is a Senior Immigration and Asylum Caseworker within our Public Law department. He deals with both private and publicly funded international protection and human rights claims, and regularly represents clients in complex litigation.

Call Tomasso on 02079238461, or by email at TommasoP@duncanlewis.com

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

Duncan Lewis has the leading public law and immigration practice in the UK. The team frequently takes on and successfully brings challenges in some of the most high profile cases in the UK, including in relation to the Rwanda plan and Manston House. The company was crowned Law Firm of the Year 2024 at the LexisNexis awards, and noted for its commitment to providing justice for all.

Duncan Lewis is renowned for its exceptional legal services and commitment to justice. The company employs a team of highly skilled solicitors offering top-tier representation in 25 fields of law, and ranked as top tier by the Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 legal guides, and as one of the top 250 law firms in the country by the Times.