The Extradition of Walter Palmer to Zimbabwe

(Narrator)

Social media - do not implore it for compassion.

Social Media - do not beg it for forgiveness.

Social Media - do not ask it for mercy.

Let’s face it - you can’t talk Social Media outta anything!

(cue music)

The Extradition (Let’s begin)

The Extradition (Look out sin)

We have a mission to protect the lions

We’re gonna teach hunters wrong from right.

We’re gonna help hunters see the light

and make an offer that they can’t refuse.

Confess, don’t be boring.

Say yes, don’t be dull.

A fact you’re ignoring:

It’s better to lose your trophy wall than your own head

The Extradition (what a show)

The Extradition (here we go)

We know you’re wishin’ that we’d go away.

But the Extradition’s here and it’s here to stay!

And it’s here to stay!

(with many thanks and much love to Mel Brooks)

Much of the world who has a presence on social media wants Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer to be extradited to Zimbabwe to be held to answer for the murder of Cecil the lion.  Murder presumes that the killing was illegal and that Mr. Palmer (it's damn hard to use Dr., implying this guy is a healer) knew it was illegal and with that knowledge went ahead and killed this magnificent creature.

Here are a few of the headlines as this is written:

"Zimbabwe Official Urges Extradition of Dentist Who Killed Cecil the Lion" - NY Times

"Extradite the foreign poacher!' Zimbabwe demands Walter Palmer be handed over by the U.S. after accusing dentist of illegally killing Cecil the lion" - Dailymail.com

"Walter Palmer: Lion Killer A Fugitive As Zimbabwe Begins Extradition — What Are Prisons Like There?" - Inquisitir

"White House considers extradition of Cecil lion killer Walter Palmer" - Express.co.uk

So what does all of that really mean?  The first three headlines are all based on the comments of one man.  Oppah Muchinguri is Zimbabwe's Environment Minister and he alone has called for the extradition of Mr. Palmer.  The Inquisitur has no source claiming the White House is considering a formal extradition request, their story is based solely on the fact that a petition created at WhiteHouse.gov has achieved the 100,000 signatures required to force the White House to respond to the petition.

In point of fact, extradition is a formal process that begins with something that has not yet happened in the case of Cecil's murder.  The request for Mr. Palmer's extradition requires that Zimbabwe first charge him with a crime.  They haven't done that yet.  The Embassy of Zimbabwe in the United States, according to the Associated Press, has not received instructions regarding an extradition request.  The U. S. State Department won't comment on individual extradition requests.

The extradition treaty between the U. S. and Zimbabwe was signed in 2000 and so far, neither country has extradited a single person to the other.  Stephen Vladek is a professor of law at American University, specializing in international matters.  He told the New York Times that "extraditions invariably come down to political and diplomatic considerations far more than they do legal ones."

Relations between the two nations are not good.  Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe blames his country's failed economy on the U. S.  The U. S. sanctions against Zimbabwe that he places the blame are involve alleged human rights violations.  That would become a consideration should Mr. Palmer fight a formal request for extradition.  If it is determined that the prisons that Mr. Palmer might be incarcerated in are not up to "human rights standards," the extradition request could be denied.  Prisoners in Zimbabwe rioted earlier this year because they had not been fed meat for more than three years, according to multiple news outlets.  

Will Walter Palmer be extradited to Zimbabwe to face justice?  With all the hype by the news media, with all of the vitriol on social media, it won't happen before Zimbabwe actually starts the process.  That hasn't happened yet, as far as we can tell.

Stay tuned.