International Criminal Law Conventions Establishing a Duty to Extradite or Prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare) in Legal System of Iran

In order to militate against the impunity of perpetrators of grave and significant crimes having international character and also to prevent commission of international crimes, “the duty to extradite or prosecute” is provided for in various conventions and treaties. The duty is loaded with the meaning that the state in which the person accused of international crime has been arrested, must choose between the options of prosecution or extradition. This rule during the time since the seventeenth century when it was set out by Grotius in “The Law of War and Peace” book, have witnessed various developments. Being set on ILC’s agenda, this subject of international Criminal law has been attached with more significance. Despite frequent use of this maxim in various international conventions, there is no doubt about the treaty nature of this commitment, but its customary character is highly controversial amongst scholars. This essay is to scrutinize and analyze the mentioned different aspects of the obligation to “Extradite or Prosecute” (aut dedere aut judicare) in several international conventions and also, the possibility of having such a rule in legal system of Iran.