Julian Assange's request for political asylum is being considered by the Ecuadorian Government. Photo by News Media Days on Flickr.
Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange's bold play of seeking asylum from Ecuador may pay off if the South American country agrees to his request, according to an international law expert from The Australian National University. Mr Assange entered the London Embassy of Ecuador on 19 June seeking political asylum. That request is currently being considered by the Ecuadorian Government. Professor Donald Rothwell of the ANU College of Law said that if asylum is granted, it may put Mr Assange beyond the reach of the USA, and a possible extradition to that country. "Julian Assange has a right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to seek asylum from persecution. The Government of Ecuador has a capacity under international law to grant Assange political asylum, in which case he would then be eligible to enjoy protected passage from the United Kingdom to Ecuador," said Professor Rothwell. "If this were to occur, Assange would be able to avoid the current legal proceedings against him seeking his extradition to Sweden to face questioning on sexual assault charges." Professor Rothwell added that although there is a formal extradition treaty between Ecuador and the United States, its provisions do not include those wanted for political charges.
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