Sunday, February 19, 2012
What Kind of Extradition is This?
PJ Media has a troubling story about a Saudi man arrested in Malaysia and put on a Saudi plane back to his home country, where he faces a death sentence for apostasy.
http://pjmedia.com/blog/sharia%E2%80%99s-global-reach-a-liberal-muslim-extradited-to-possible-beheading/
The article probably does not contain all the facts. It is possible, indeed probable, that this was done outside normal extradition process. Interpol involvement would be doubtful and very troubling since they are not supposed to be involved in helping enforce this kind of "crime".
Many countries will cooperate in such a way as to deport the person in question in a more informal manner. For example, the person, if charged with a minor offense, could be ordered by the court to be deported. That might allow the person to go to whichever country he or she chooses. However, if the person's own country cancels his or her passport, that limits the choices to owns own country. When I was with DEA in Thailand, I saw cases where an American wanted in the US on federal drug charges, was arrested by the Thai cops for some small infraction then ordered deported by the court. At the same time, the suspect's passport was stamped by the US Embassy as being valid only for travel back to the US. At that point, the person was taken to the airport by Thai police and put on a plane back to the US. By an amazing coincidence, he happened to be seated next to a couple of DEA agents-in one such case, yours truly.
However, there is a huge difference between an international drug trafficker and one who is guilty of apostasy or blasphemy. This case is one that no other country should have participated in.
Keep in mind that if the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation within the UN has its way, you might see more incidents like this. It is an example of what we call creeping Shariah.
I wonder what crime the Saudis told Interpol to get them to cooperate. And if Interpol will cooperate with the Saudis in the future.
ReplyDeleteI would agree, that's why I did not join you in sympathizing with the Roman Catholic bishops trying to impose a little shariah of their own on regulations proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services.
ReplyDeleteBut when you go lecturing about a transaction between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, you have to keep in mind that in both countries, blasphemy is a legitimate criminal offense. WE wouldn't extradite on this basis, but THEY can by THEIR laws.
The lesson is, the man should have fled to India, or the U.S., or Taiwan, or...