Extradition Criminals to INTERPOL and International Judicial Cooperation

Extradition of criminals is considered one of the fundamental aspects of international judicial cooperation, as it aims to combat cross-border crime and prevent the offenders from evading justice. In the United Arab Emirates, the process of extradition of criminals is regulated by a set of laws and international agreements that specify the necessary conditions and procedures for this.

Local laws regulating extradition of criminals:

Federal Law No. 39 of 2006 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters is the basic legal framework that regulates the process of extradition of criminals in the country. This law includes several articles that specify the conditions and procedures for extradition, the most prominent of which are:

Article (8): Multiple Crimes for which Extradition is Requested

This article stipulates that if the extradition request includes more than one crime, each punishable under the laws of both countries, the request may be approved based on one of those crimes if the conditions and controls stipulated in this law are met.

Article (9): Cases of Refusal of Extradition

This article specifies the cases in which extradition is not permissible, and includes several reasons, some of which are mentioned below:

1. If the person requested for extradition holds the nationality of the country.
2. If the law in the country grants jurisdiction to the competent judicial authorities regarding the crime for which extradition is requested.
3. If the crime subject to the request is a political crime or related to a political crime, with the exception of crimes of terrorism, war crimes and crimes of genocide.
4. If there are serious reasons to believe that the extradition request is intended to prosecute or punish a person for reasons related to his ethnicity, religion, nationality or political opinions, or that the availability of any of these reasons would harm the position of this person.
5. If the requested person has been or may be subjected in the requesting country to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or cruel punishment disproportionate to the crime, or if he does not have the minimum guarantees stipulated in the Criminal Procedures Law.

International and Bilateral Treaties:

• The United Arab Emirates has signed many international and bilateral treaties to enhance cooperation in the field of extradition of criminals. These treaties aim to combat cross-border crime and prevent the offenders from evading justice. The most prominent of these agreements are:

Bilateral Treaties:

The UAE has signed several agreements with countries in the fields of extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. The agreements aim to enhance judicial cooperation between the two countries in combating crime. These include the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Poland, Sweden, and Turkey.

International Treaties:

• In addition to bilateral agreements, the UAE is a member of several international agreements that regulate the process of extradition and extradition of criminals, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its annexed protocols.
• These agreements reflect the UAE’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in the field of extradition and ensuring the achievement of justice at the regional and international levels.

Extradition Procedures in the UAE:

The extradition process in the UAE includes several stages, including:

1- Submitting an extradition request: The process begins with the requesting country submitting an official request to extradite the accused, including all the details and supporting information.

2. Legal examination: The UAE authorities review the request and ensure that it complies with local and international laws.
3. Judicial decision: A court decision must be obtained approving the extradition, and the wanted person has the right to appeal the decision and defend himself before the criminal court.
4. Implementation of the decision: After the issuance of the judicial decision, the procedures for transferring the wanted person to the requesting state are arranged in coordination between the relevant authorities in both states.

As a conclusion, the UAE’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in the field of extradition is demonstrated by its adoption of clear laws and the conclusion of bilateral and international agreements, which contributes to combating crime and ensuring the achievement of justice.