What Happens If The Extradition Request Is Politically Motivated?

Extradition is a critical legal process, but it can become contentious if the request is perceived as politically motivated. Many countries, including India, have specific clauses in their extradition treaties that address requests made for politically motivated reasons. Under international law, countries must carefully consider whether the charges against an individual are genuine criminal offenses or politically charged accusations meant to silence opposition or dissent.

Political Offenses and Extradition

Political Offense Exception

Most extradition treaties include an exception for political offenses. If the requesting country is believed to be seeking extradition for a political offense, such as dissent against the government or activism that challenges the state, the requested country can refuse the extradition.

Political offenses typically include:

• Acts of political protest
• Anti-government speeches or writings
• Opposition to the ruling regime
• Espionage or actions related to national security that are politically motivated

International Legal Framework

According to international law, especially under conventions like the European Convention on Extradition, countries can refuse to extradite an individual if the offense is deemed to be politically motivated. This is particularly relevant when the person’s actions are not aimed at harming people or property but are directed toward opposing government policies.

Safeguards Against Politically Motivated Extradition

Dual Criminality Principle

The principle of dual criminality ensures that an act can only be extraditable if it is considered a crime in both the requesting and requested countries. This principle can act as a safeguard against politically motivated extraditions, as countries may refuse to extradite individuals for acts that do not qualify as crimes under their own legal systems.

Refugee and Asylum Protections

If an individual is being persecuted or faces a real threat of persecution in the requesting country, they may seek asylum or refugee status in the country where they are located. The 1951 Refugee Convention protects individuals from being extradited if they face political persecution.

International Human Rights Law

International human rights law provides further protection against politically motivated extradition. The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibit the extradition of individuals who may face unfair trials, torture, or persecution due to their political views.

Legal and Diplomatic Implications

Potential Diplomatic Strain

Refusing a politically motivated extradition request may strain diplomatic relations between the two countries involved. However, countries often weigh the protection of human rights over political considerations, especially if they are signatories to international human rights treaties.

Asylum Claims and Political Protection

If the extradition is politically motivated, the person may be granted asylum in the requested country, based on the argument that they are at risk of political persecution. This can lead to prolonged legal battles, but it can also help protect the individual from unfair prosecution or harm.

International Courts

In some cases, if the requesting country feels that the extradition refusal was unjust, they may seek arbitration through international courts like the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, such cases are often complex and involve significant diplomatic negotiation.

Example

Suppose an Indian journalist is accused by the Pakistani government of espionage and terrorism after publishing articles critical of the Pakistani government’s policies. India seeks extradition from a European country where the journalist is currently residing. The journalist claims that the charges are politically motivated and are aimed at silencing dissent.

Steps the European country may take:

• Evaluate the Extradition Request: The European country would first assess whether espionage or terrorism is a political offense under its extradition treaty with India and whether the act is a crime under its own laws.
• Grant Asylum if Politically Motivated: If the European country determines that the journalist faces political persecution in Pakistan, it may grant asylum under the 1951 Refugee Convention to protect the individual from extradition.
• Diplomatic Negotiations: If the situation is contentious, both India and the European country may engage in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the issue, with the European country potentially offering guarantees that the journalist will receive a fair trial or that they will not face the death penalty or torture in Pakistan.

This example shows how politically motivated extradition requests can lead to complex international legal and diplomatic situations, where considerations of human rights, international treaties, and bilateral relations all come into play.