Indo-Moroccan Extradition Agreement that will provide a strong legal base for the extradition of fugitive offenders who are accused of economic offences, terrorism and other serious offences in one Contracting State and found in another Contracting State was inked by Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V K Singh and Minister of Justice of Morocco, Mohamed Auajjar on 13 November 2018 in New Delhi.
Mohamed Auajjar was on a VIP visit to India from 11 to 18 November 2018 and said that Morocco has sought assistance from India in the field of IT, “As part of this initiative, we are seeking India’s assistance in digitising courts in Morocco”.
In a tweet, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the discussion between the two leaders focused on strengthening bilateral relations.
Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved on Thursday 8 November 2018 signing and ratifying the Extradition Agreement between India and Morocco.
- Extradition Treaty will also strengthen bilateral relations to deal with criminal elements acting against the national interest of both India and Morocco.
- It will be beneficial for the citizens of both the countries.
- Morocco has emerged as a key pillar in India’s Africa strategy and Delhi had played a key role in Morocco’s re-entry into the African Union in 2017.
- In Asia, India is the recipient of Morocco’s biggest investment.
India and Morocco enjoy friendly bilateral relations and over the years these cordiall relations have witnessed significant depth and growth. In addition to the above Extradition Treaty, an Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters was signed on Monday 12 November 2018 by the visiting Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Aujjar and Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. The two countries have also signed this year many other agreements and MoUs on different sectors including:
- Air Service
- Tourism
- Social Programmes
- Mining and Geology, and
- Information technology
Extradition Treaty between any two countries is signed keeping in view the divergence between the laws of various countries and the treaty generally accepts the principle of dual criminality, so a person who is a fugitive in one country will also be treated as a fugitive and criminal in the country in which he/she seeks asylum.
In Extradition arrangements countries agree to assist mutually in “legal procedures”, without any binding agreement.
India has Extradition Treaties currently in force with the 47 countries and Extradition arrangements with the 10 countries.
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