It is reported that the United Nations has spoken out about the ongoing residence of Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. I won't comment on what they have said, but rather on the situation as a whole.
Since 2012, Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in a bid to avoid being extradited to Sweden to stand trial for rape. For most of that time he has been granted asylum by the Ecuadorian government.
On the one hand I do not think it is right that Ecuador should help Assange to avoid criminal charges, but on the other hand I am aware that the United Kingdom has for many years now allowed foreign criminals to avoid justice in their own homelands by allowing them to remain in this country as refugees.
I am reminded in particular of two Indian men who were wanted on terror charges in India who were allowed to remain. Asylum is supposed to be granted where people are under threat of persecution because of their beliefs, not because they have committed crimes.
I'd be surprised if there have not also been many abuses of asylum status by criminals taking refuge in Sweden.
Related previous posts include:
Air strikes against Iraq are wrong
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