One step closer to Gitmo, one step closer to 1984 on steroids.
Assange loses extradition appeal
11–20 of 63 posts
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#12This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of.
He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system of arrest warrants across Europe. Let's get on with it.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#13This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of. He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system…
[deleted]
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#14[deleted]
I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU. That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is ir…
Why can't he be questioned in Britain?
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#15This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of. He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system…
I think this is pretty much the average position on HN.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#16This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of. He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system…
I'm fine with it, as long as he's not extradited to US, and the Court and prosecution doesn't turn out to be very corrupt there.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#17This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of. He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system…
"Technical grounds", in this case, means "the extradition request was never written by anyone the UK considers to be a valid authority". In denying his appeal, the Supreme Court based its ruling on treaties that neither party had argued over or been informed would be germane. Thus, there'll likely be another appeal before anything happens.
The law is finicky for a reason: it spells out exactly what rights the respective parties have. Were it not so explicit, and were the courts not so strict in enforcing it, the validity of the entire system would be called into question and judicial impartiality / defendants' rights would fly out the window.
People throw a tizzy when a murderer gets let off because they weren't read their rights, but if that didn't happen no one would have their rights read. It's just how the system keeps police and prosecutors in line. It's necessary.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Actually, Polanski was arrested and released in Switzerland, not Sweden.
Polanski is also a different kettle of fish compared to Assange. Polanski has various friends in high places. Assange has few. Also, Assange managed to piss off almost every single branch of the US government. Rather than merely shooting himself in the foot, he blew his entire leg off with a shotgun. Not to say what he was trying to achieve wasn't noble. In my personal opinion state corruption still needs to be expos…
I am, however, confused at how the US can charge him for espionage, given that he's not a US citizen.
It makes sense that he would be extradited to Sweden -- he's accused of committing a crime(well, 2) while he was present in the country. I don't see the same applying to what he's accused of in the US.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've posted about this before in previous HN stories, but it's actually not that dodgy: because EU borders are open (you can move between EU countries freely) it's important to have a process for arrest warrants that are valid throughout the EU. That's what's happened here: Sweden wants to question Assange, with a view to potentially bringing charges. They have issued an arrest warrant to arrest him - his guilt is ir…
Why can't he be questioned in Britain?
"Swedish law requires a person to be physically present before charges can be laid, so this can only happen once Mr Assange is on Swedish territory."
http://www.fairtrials.net/documents/Sweden_QA.pdf
That's just how their justice system works. He is accused of committing the crimes in Sweden, so in Sweden shall he be questioned.
Re: Assange loses extradition appeal
#20This is probably an unpopular opinion for some of the HN population, but I wish that Assange would be extradited to Sweden. He's appealing extradition on technical grounds, and it's about time he went to Sweden and faced the judicial system there. All of the current proceedings are a sideshow which have nothing to do with the things he'd accused of. He's accused of sexual offenses in Sweden, we have a working system…
Some people are claiming (based on leaked Stratfor emails) that there is a sealed indictment for him in the US, and that the moment he goes to Sweden he will be whisked away for a secret trial at the hands of the Americans.
The issue is not so much the Swedish charges, but the difference in attitudes about extradition to the US between Sweden and the UK.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/...
As there is no rule of law in America (secret trials, secret laws, solitary confinement without trial, etc etc etc), this is the worst possible outcome.