France Considers Offering Asylum to Edward Snowden and Julian Assange

French party leaders have been calling on France to grant U.S. whistleblowers, Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, asylum as a “symbolic gesture.”

Snowden is facing criminal espionage charges in the U.S., and Assange is facing alleged sex crime allegations from Sweden, however Ecuador has granted Assange asylum at their embassy in London on the grounds that “he is at risk of extradition to the US to face espionage and conspiracy charges arising from the leaking of secret documents by US Army private Chelsea Manning,” according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

In a statement from French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira:

“If France decides to offer asylum to Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s a possibility.”

(French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira. Photo: AFP)

The outcry for support comes amidst a recent WikiLeaks report claiming the U.S. has been spying on French President Francois Hollande, as well as his two predecessors and members of their administrations.

The French Defense Council expressed that it would not tolerate “any action jeopardizing its security and the protection of its interests.” They continue:

“These unacceptable facts already resulted in clarifications between France and the United States [in 2013 and 2014]… Commitments were made by the American authorities. They must be recalled and strictly respected.”

The decision as to whether or not France will grant Snowden and Assange asylum rests upon French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and President Francois Hollande.

Sources:

Dorling, Philip. The Sydney Morning Herald. Jun 26, 2015. (http://www.smh.com.au/world/france-mulls-offering-asylum-to-julian-assange-and-edward-snowden-20150626-ghyg7i.html)

Kumar, Mohit. The Hacker News. Jun 25, 2015. (http://thehackernews.com/2015/06/france-edward-assange-asylum.html)

Todd, Tony and Vardey, Josh. France 24. Jul 3, 2015. (http://www.france24.com/en/20130701-snowden-nsa-france-asylum-melanchon-greens-le-pen-hollande/)

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