FATHER APPROACHES SUPREME COURT SEEKING DIRECTIONS TO EXTRADITE HIS DAUGHTER FROM AFGANISTAN

Vj Sebastian Francis from Kerala approached the Apex Court seeking the extradition of his daughter from Afghanistan, who left India to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The father stated that his daughter Sonia Sabastian and her 7-year-old daughter are detained in Afghanistan after the ISIS forces surrendered to the US forces.

Sonia Sebastian converted to Islam and changed her name to Ayesha. She belonged to a Catholic Christian family. She entered into a relationship with Abdulla Abdul Rashid while she was studying engineering. Subsequently, she converted to Islam when she moved to Bangalore for MBA, and the same was hidden from her parents. In 2010 her parents discovered that their daughter converted to Islam and is in a relationship with Abdul. When the parents objected, Ayesha eloped and married Abdul. Later, the couple came under the influence of ISIS and left India to join the terrorist group.

In 2019 Abdul Rashid died in a military operation in Afghanistan organised by the Afgan security forces.

The Petitioner contended that Ayesha was already booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act after she left India. Moreover, Interpol issued a Red Corner notice against her. The Petitioner argued that in 2016 India entered into an extradition treaty in Afghanistan whereby each contracting state agreed to extradite any person accused of an offence within the territory of one state but found on another state. Moreover, the instrument of ratification of the said treaty was exchanged between the countries in 2019, Kabul.

Since India has not taken measures to extradite, the two are stuck in a faraway land.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal