# Aren't embassies inviolate under international law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635 "2012-08-16T01:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/41 "2012-08-16T16:01:40Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I don’t know, I think I smell collusion in the air, myself. > > I think there is a good chance that Julian has some dirt/leverage on Ecuador, seems possible… I doubt it. The Ecuadorian government likes him because he’s been stickin’ it to The Man (i.e. the U.S.): [http://www.france24.com/en/20120621-uk-wikileaks-justice-asylum-assange-ecuador-extradition-sweden-diplomatic-cable](http://www.france24.com/en/20120621-uk-wikileaks-justice-asylum-assange-ecuador-extradition-sweden-diplomatic-cable) ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/42 "2012-08-16T16:18:02Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > They have a very strong case against him. At the time he was charged, the two young girls were still smitten and refused to testify. Julian knows that they have since grown into women, who now see their experience with him, from the viewpoint of adults, and are both anxious to testify. Julian knows his goose is cooked. He knew he had to scoot from that country and not return, I’m sure. Everything you just posted is complete nonsense. He has not been charged. The two “young girls” apparently grew into women in the space of _a week_. The case has already been closed once because the crime, let alone the evidence, is just their word against his. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/43 "2012-08-16T16:26:38Z")
Note Sweden has not even charged him, they just want him for the investigation. I find it highly unlikely he ever **will be charged** and most likely this entire affair would have been over by now if Assange hadn’t fled the country. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/44 "2012-08-16T16:33:18Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > Wasn’t Polanski in France and Switzerland? What would the UK have to do with it? Apparently nothing, so he is a bad example to apply specifically to the UK, and I retract any implication that the UK didn’t extradite him when they had the chance (I was mislead by a line in his Wikipedia entry which says that"Polanski fled to his home in London, eventually settling in France". From a little bit of further research, it looks like he did avoid the UK). I still believe that, as a general statement about governments worldwide, an incredible level of effort has been put towards Assange compared to Polanski, despite the more serious nature of Polanski’s crime. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/45 "2012-08-16T16:35:17Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > You can get the regular version by removing the “m.” from the URL. I got that. I was just wondering if the “m” version was for mobile devices or if it had some other meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/46 "2012-08-16T16:48:01Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > He may well discover that Ecuador (assuming he actually makes it there) is the only place he can remain free. The chances of him making it there are miniscule. He may be able to stay relatively safe within the embassy or even in a vehicle registered to the embassy, but for him to get to Ecuador, he’s going to have to go to the airport, and once he steps out of that car, he’s going to be arrested. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/47 "2012-08-16T16:54:39Z")
At this point they are harboring a man accused of a criminal act. Oh, wait, he is only wanted for questioning in Sweden. Well, if he had actually been accused of a criminal act by a prosecuting body, I wouldn’t have a problem with this. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/48 "2012-08-16T17:04:29Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > The chances of him making it there are miniscule. He may be able to stay relatively safe within the embassy or even in a vehicle registered to the embassy, but for him to get to Ecuador, he’s going to have to go to the airport, and once he steps out of that car, he’s going to be arrested. How’s he going to get _into_ the car? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/49 "2012-08-16T17:08:35Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I am guessing that the actual, realpolitik attitude of the UK is “International law be damned, we are not going to let a 3rd world cesspool like Ecuador bitch-punk us in front of the entire friggin’ world, especially right in our own bloody living room.” [Moderator Warning] **MPB in Salt Lake** , you’ve been around long enough to know that political commentary of this kind is inappropriate for GQ. This is an official warning. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/50 "2012-08-16T17:09:00Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > From the stories I’ve read, Assange has an air mattress in a back room of the apartment. Which, if there’s a God in heaven, has a slow leak. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/51 "2012-08-16T17:14:33Z")
What if Ecuador hired two hundred Assange look-alikes and had them all report to the embassy. and then have them + the real one quickly leave en-masse in different directions. Do the British have enough manpower waiting there to arrest over a hundred people? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/52 "2012-08-16T17:17:12Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > . . . > I still believe that, as a general statement about governments worldwide, an incredible level of effort has been put towards Assange compared to Polanski, despite the more serious nature of Polanski’s crime. I agree, but I think it’s _because_ of Polanski. There was an enormous amount of outrage once the media made clear how very easy it should have been to bring Polanski to justice sooner. The public at large was horrified once the issue came to light. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/53 "2012-08-16T17:18:57Z")
What if the Ecuadorians gave him a diplomatic passport and an official highfalutin title at the embassy? Would he be able to then claim diplomatic immunity? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/54 "2012-08-16T17:26:04Z")
According to a [Foxnews.com](http://Foxnews.com) article I just read, British Foreign Secretary William Hague says that "The United Kingdom does not recognize the principle of diplomatic asylum.‘’ Sounds like the Brits aren’t going to put up with any bullshit on this one. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/55 "2012-08-16T17:38:22Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > What if the Ecuadorians gave him a diplomatic passport and an official highfalutin title at the embassy? Would he be able to then claim diplomatic immunity? No. In order to have diplomatic immunity, the receiving country has to accept the credentials of the diplomat. Diplomatic immunity is a shield agreed upon by both the sending and receiving state; not a sword that unwilling governments cannot defend against. ---
**Author:** ![williambaskerville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/56 "2012-08-16T17:38:49Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > What if the Ecuadorians gave him a diplomatic passport and an official highfalutin title at the embassy? Would he be able to then claim diplomatic immunity? See this earlier thread :- > **[Can Ecuador legally get Assange out of London ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=655871)** > > (Now there’s a question I wouldn’t have imagined asking this time yesterday). For those who haven’t heard about it, this is in connection with Julian Assange’s decision last night to enter Ecuador’s London embassy and seek asylum. He’s currently... Short answer, no. In order for him to have diplomatic immunity, the British would have to accept him as a diplomat, which they won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/57 "2012-08-16T17:42:14Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > How’s he going to get _into_ the car? From inside the embassy garage, of course. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/58 "2012-08-16T17:50:57Z")
William Hague has said that the government have no plans to storm the Ecuadorian embassy and that the situation may not be resolved quickly. I get the feeling that Assange is milking this for all its worth and is enjoying the spotlight. BTW I recall reading that the charge he may be on the hook for in Sweden isn’t rape but something called “unprotected consensual sex”, which is apparently an assault under Swedish law. It doesn’t sound that serious a charge, or am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/59 "2012-08-16T19:05:37Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > BTW I recall reading that the charge he may be on the hook for in Sweden isn’t rape but something called “unprotected consensual sex”, which is apparently an assault under Swedish law. It doesn’t sound that serious a charge, or am I wrong? From the wiki: > [@](#): > > On appeal, the Svea Court of Appeal upheld the warrant on suspicion of rape, olaga tvång (duress/unlawful coercion), and two cases of sexuellt ofredande,[25][26][27][28] which has been variously translated as “sexual molestation”,[29] “sexual assault”,[30] “sexual misconduct”, “sexual annoyance”, “sexual unfreedom”, “sexual misdemeanour”, and “sexual harassment”.[31][32][19][26][27] > **[Assange v Swedish Prosecution Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assange_v_Swedish_Prosecution_Authority)** > > Assange v Swedish Prosecution Authority were the set of legal proceedings in the United Kingdom concerning the requested extradition of Julian Assange to Sweden for a "preliminary investigation" into accusations of sexual offences allegedly made in August 2010. Assange left Sweden for the UK in 27 September 2010 and a warrant for his arrest was issued in his absence the same day. He was suspected of rape of a lesser degree, unlawful coercion and multiple cases of sexual molestation.\[2 On 12 Aug... I think there’s been some confusion because, naturally, some of the Swedish laws don’t map exactly to equivalent UK/US ones. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635/60 "2012-08-16T19:06:59Z")
Here’s more on the Swedish charges against Assange: [http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/07/us-wikileaks-assange-charges-idUSTRE6B669H20101207](http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/07/us-wikileaks-assange-charges-idUSTRE6B669H20101207) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arent-embassies-inviolate-under-international-law/631635.md?page=4)