DOJ-OGR-00020101.jpg
Extracted Text (OCR)
Casmat204c680B30.AN0bnt DocymémM1002, FIGASW1Bade4Pavgel Bf 4
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MINISTRY
OF JUSTICE
Liberty Directorate of Criminal Affairs and Pardons
Equality
Fraternity
Specialized Criminal Justice Sub-Directorate
Office for the International Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Paris, December 11, 2020
Mr. Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice
to
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Through Andrew FINKELMAN, Liaison Magistrate
Embassy of the United States of America in Paris
I have the honor to inform you that Article 696-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure
provides that France can extradite "any person not having French nationality,” it being specified that
nationality is assessed on the day of the commission of the acts for which extradition is requested
(Article 696-4 1°).
The French Code of Criminal Procedure therefore absolutely prohibits the extradition of a
person who had French nationality at the time of the commission of the acts for which extradition is
requested.
The penal law being of strict interpretation, there is no reason to discriminate between
nationals and binationals. From the moment they were French at the time of the facts, the person
claimed is inextradible, regardless of whether they hold one or more nationalities.
When the refusal to extradite is based on the nationality of the requested person, France
applies the principle "aut tradere, aut judicar" according to which the State which refuses the
surrender must judge the person. Thus, Article 113-6 of the Penal Code gives competence to the
French courts to judge acts committed abroad by a person of French nationality.
Some countries, generally under Anglo-Saxon law, agree to extradite their nationals and, at the
same time, have no jurisdiction to judge acts committed by their nationals on foreign territory. This is
particularly the case of the United States of America.
13, place Vendéme - 75042 Paris Cedex 01
Telephone: 01 44 77 60 60
www.justice-gouv.fr
DOJ-OGR-00020101
Extracted Information
Document Details
| Filename | DOJ-OGR-00020101.jpg |
| File Size | 650.5 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 94.7% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 1,989 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-03 19:52:17.074680 |