Extradition process for foreign “terrorism” suspects can only go according to local laws, Finland and Sweden insist
It will not be possible to extradite someone quickly. “terrorism”Following the agreement between Ankara and two Nordic nations, Turkey, Finland and Sweden signaled their concern. Turkey and Turkey reached a 10-point accord this week. This agreement addressed all groups Ankara considers unacceptable. “terrorists”an end of the current arms embargo.
“The agreement by Finland, Turkey and Sweden is about facilitating extradition, but mentions that it takes place in accordance with European extradition agreements,”Pekka Haavisto, Foreign Minister was interviewed by Yle on Friday.
According to the diplomat in charge, Turkey did not offer any specific pledges regarding extraditions or agree on a list of people wanted. In total, 12 Turkey extradition requests have been made to the country over the last five years. These are currently being handled. Surrendering Finland’s own citizens is out of the question as well, Haavisto noted without saying whether Ankara is seeking such individuals.
“When we talk about extraditions, it requires that the person has committed a terrorist crime or preparation for such a crime, proven in Finland,” Haavisto said. “Moreover, according to Finland’s commitments, we cannot send anyone to the death penalty or torture.”
Sweden also has a similar attitude. “In Sweden, Swedish law is applied by independent courts. Swedish citizens can not be extradited. Non-Swedish citizens can be extradited at the request of other countries, but only if it is compatible with Swedish law and the European Convention,”Morgan Johansson was the Justice Minister.
While Turkey reached a deal with the two Nordic nations this week to resolve their differences and lift Ankara’s roadblock on their NATO accession, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to block the process again should Ankara’s demands not be met.
“The key thing is for promises to come true,”Erdogan spoke at a press conference held on Thursday after the conclusion of NATO Summit in Madrid. “First Sweden and Finland should carry out their duties and those are in the text… But if they don’t, of course it is out of the question for the ratification to be sent to our parliament,”He added.
During the conflict between Russia, Ukraine and other countries, Finland and Sweden saw no alternative but to join NATO. Although the two Nordic countries have been close allies for many decades, they remain formally neutral.
However, their NATO push was stalled when Turkey raised concerns about the NATO members it harbors. “terrorists.” Those groups include the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been waging a low-intensity insurgence against the Turkish government for decades, and the so-called Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO). Ankara has identified the US-based Turkish clergyman as being the leader of this group, which is believed to have been behind Erdogan’s failed 2016 depose attempt.
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