Can India Extradite For Crimes Under Foreign Religious Laws?

India follows a secular legal framework under its Constitution, which means its laws are generally independent of religious laws. Extradition cases involving offences under foreign religious laws raise complex issues relating to the applicability of dual criminality, treaty obligations, and protection of fundamental rights.

Legal and Procedural Aspects of Extradition for Foreign Religious Law Offences

Dual Criminality and Secular Laws

The core principle governing extradition is dual criminality — the offence must be a crime both in the requesting country and under Indian law.

Many offences under foreign religious laws may not have an exact counterpart under Indian secular law. Without this equivalence, extradition can be refused.

For example, offences based solely on apostasy, blasphemy, or religious conversions may not be criminalized under Indian law, complicating extradition.

Extradition Treaties and Political Offence Exception

India’s extradition treaties generally cover criminal offences defined under secular statutes, not religious laws unless they coincide with recognized criminal acts.

Claims based on religious laws sometimes invoke the political offence exception, where extradition is denied if the offence is deemed political or religious persecution.

Human Rights and Due Process Safeguards

Courts and the executive assess the risk of persecution, unfair trial, or human rights violations if extradition proceeds based on religious law offences.

India upholds fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring no extradition violates protections such as freedom of religion and equality before the law.

Judicial Review and Discretion

Indian courts review extradition requests thoroughly, especially when the request involves religious laws, to ensure adherence to Indian legal standards and treaty obligations.

The government retains discretion to refuse extradition where it conflicts with Indian principles of justice or sovereignty.

Practical Scenarios

Extradition is more feasible where the religious law offence overlaps with secular crimes, e.g., violence, fraud, or trafficking, even if the offence arises from religious statutes.

Purely religious offences without Indian legal equivalents generally do not lead to extradition.

Example

Suppose a country requests extradition for an individual accused of blasphemy under its religious laws, but Indian law does not criminalize blasphemy. Indian courts would likely refuse extradition, citing lack of dual criminality and concerns over freedom of expression and religion.

Conclusion

India generally does not extradite individuals solely for offences under foreign religious laws unless those offences are also crimes under Indian secular law and covered by applicable treaties. The principles of dual criminality, human rights protections, and secular constitutional values play a critical role in such extradition decisions.