In both cases appeals may be filed at the Federal Supreme Court. Genocide, the hijacking of aircraft or the taking of hostages are not considered as political offences. Extradition is also refused if the proceeding abroad contradicts the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, or is carried out to prosecute or punish a person on account of his political opinion, his belonging to a certain social group or nationality, his race or religion. Although the question of a political prosecution is already examined in the extradition proceedings, the authorities deciding political asylum will render a separate decision. Purely military offences are excluded from extradition.
Military offences are, for example, insubordination or desertion.
Extradition is also refused for fiscal offences which were committed with the aim to reduce taxes or custom duties. Switzerland, as most of the European States, reserves the right to refuse extradition of its own nationals. As a rule, a criminal proceeding already pending for the same offence in the requested State takes precedence over extradition. Besides that, extradition will not be granted if the person pursued has become immune from prosecution or punishment by reason of lapse of time. In order that the person pursued does not go unpunished, the requesting State has the possibility to submit the case to the requested State to assume prosecution.