# Iranian protesters storm UK embassy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 29, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491 "2011-11-29T20:27:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/1 "2011-11-29T20:27:23Z")
[No mention of hostages taken.](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/11/20111129132554123213.html) Meanwhile, [Iran is about to expel the British ambassador.](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/11/201111279247268636.html) It’s all about the sanctions, of course. Looks like the UK now will enjoy the same sort of relationship with Iran that the U.S. has enjoyed since 1979 . . . but does that really make the situation any worse? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/2 "2011-11-29T20:30:22Z")
They really do love to storm an embassy over there, don’t they. Its like people from Prague with tossing politicians out of windows. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/3 "2011-11-29T20:39:52Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > They really do love to storm an embassy over there, don’t they. Its like people from Prague with tossing politicians out of windows. I’m glad I never staffed an embassy in Prague. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/4 "2011-11-29T20:51:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I’m glad I never staffed an embassy in Prague. Just make sure there are some large soft bushes beneath your window and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/5 "2011-11-29T21:14:05Z")
My Uncle Napoleon would be quite pleased. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/6 "2011-11-29T21:56:09Z")
Question: seeing as how British embassy grounds are considered British territory, would it have been legal for the guards to use for, deadly or otherwise, to keep the protesters out? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/7 "2011-11-29T22:00:51Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Its like people from Prague with tossing politicians out of windows. Link plz? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/8 "2011-11-29T22:05:57Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Link plz? [Defenestrations of Prague](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration_of_prague) ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/9 "2011-11-29T22:06:05Z")
The defenestration of Prague, which started the 30 years war in 1618. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/10 "2011-11-29T22:06:19Z")
I just think it’s funny to confirm they actually did name a street beside if after Bobby Sands. ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/11 "2011-11-29T22:07:05Z")
Damn it. Well, mine didn’t even have the link ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/12 "2011-11-29T22:07:56Z")
> [@YourAdHere](#): > > The defenestration of Prague, which started the 30 years war in 1618. There were two actually (hence the joke). The first one in 1418 started the Hussite Wars. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/13 "2011-11-29T22:12:35Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > [Defenestrations of Prague](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defenestration_of_prague) Ah 🙂 For some reason I thought you were referring to something more recent. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/14 "2011-11-29T22:22:34Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Question: seeing as how British embassy grounds are considered British territory, would it have been legal for the guards to use for, deadly or otherwise, to keep the protesters out? Nope, 'cos they’re not. Tis an urban myth- embassies are legally part of the country they are in, though they are normally treated as part if the country they are representing. ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/15 "2011-11-29T22:31:50Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I just think it’s funny to confirm they actually did name a street beside if after Bobby Sands. The road on which the US Consulate in Calcutta (Kolkata) is situated was renamed Ho Chi Minh Sarani, presumably by the Communist government of the state of West Bengal at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/16 "2011-11-29T22:44:33Z")
In more sensible times it would have been clear Casus belli of course. In any case, the Big Satan & Little Satan are already taken, so I wonder what they’re going to call the Brits. “The Satan of Average Size”? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/17 "2011-11-29T22:58:33Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Nope, 'cos they’re not. Tis an urban myth- embassies are legally part of the country they are in, though they are normally treated as part if the country they are representing. Ignorance fought. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/18 "2011-11-29T22:59:47Z")
The first Satan was too big. The second Satan was too small. But the third Satan was juuuust right. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/19 "2011-11-29T23:23:04Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > In more sensible times it would have been clear Casus belli of course. In any case, the Big Satan & Little Satan are already taken, so I wonder what they’re going to call the Brits. “The Satan of Average Size”? Satan’s Little Helper. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491/20 "2011-11-29T23:27:32Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [No mention of hostages taken.](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/11/20111129132554123213.html) Apparently there were hostages taken [for a while](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/29/iran-revolutionary-guards-editorial), and the Guardian, anyway, seems confident that elements of the Iranian government were behind this invasion. ETA: I guess there’s some dispute about whether they were hostages or just told to stay put. > [@RandMcnally](#): > > Question: seeing as how British embassy grounds are considered British territory, would it have been legal for the guards to use for, deadly or otherwise, to keep the protesters out? Others have pointed out that the embassy is not technically foreign territory, but many of the people in it would have diplomatic immunity. If such a person were to mow down a swath of the invading mob, Iran could not (legally) prosecute unless the British permitted it. The guards may not have diplomatic immunity, though. Also, there may be circumstances where it is legal under local law to use deadly force to repel intruders without regard to the fact that an embassy is involved. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iranian-protesters-storm-uk-embassy/604491.md?page=2)