Lyon (France): Internationally-renowned Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in as an ambassador for Interpol's "Turn Back Crime" campaign to promote awareness on how everyone can play a role in preventing crime.
SRK, said to be the first Indian to be made an ambassador for the global campaign, is lending his voice to help spread the message that all of society benefits when citizens respect law and fight crime.
"It's a very special honour to be a part of Interpol's Turn Back Crime campaign as an ambassador," said Shah Rukh.
"As Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'I shall not fear anyone on Earth. I shall fear only god. I shall not bear ill will toward anyone. I shall not submit to injustice from anyone. I shall conquer untruth by truth. And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering, if I have to.
"We all should believe in this maxim and in whatever way possible resolve not to let unjust people who might threaten us with criminal activity make us fear them.
"Because I believe we can, we should, and we must stand together against the few who commit crimes against any human being, in whatever form or guise these crimes might take," Shah Rukh said in a statement.
SRK joins actor Jackie Chan as an ambassador for the campaign, which has already garnered support from public figures including footballer Lionel Messi, Formula 1 racing drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in addition to law enforcement agencies around the world.
Interpol's Turn Back Crime campaign is aimed at raising public awareness that organised crime is often involved in seemingly unrelated crimes.
Drug trafficking, human trafficking, counterfeiting, cyber crime, kidnapping, crimes against children and corruption in sport are in fact often interconnected, with profits from one crime area used to fund another.
The Turn Back Crime campaign is aimed at helping the public better understand these issues and empowering them not to be duped by criminals when buying products or using the internet.
"Shah Rukh Khan has dedicated his life to making films which reflect the highest level of professionalism and commitment to bringing joy into the lives of hundreds of millions of filmgoers in India and around the world," said Interpol secretary general Ronald K. Noble.
"We are honoured to have him as an ambassador for Interpol's global Turn Back Crime campaign and we look forward to seeing how he puts his artistic talents behind this campaign," the Interpol chief said.
The Turn Back Crime campaign is also reaching out to companies and policy-makers in a bid to form a united front against contemporary crime challenges, and to support the ongoing activities of the global law enforcement community.
