Breaking news: Julian Assange arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London
The Home Secretary, Savid Javid has tweeted that “nearly 7yrs after entering the Ecuadorean Embassy, I can confirm Julian Assange is now in police custody and rightly facing justice in the UK ... No one is above the law”.
Many news reports show pictures of British police officers leading Mr Assange out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he took refuge almost seven years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault allegation. The sexual assault case has since been dropped. The public may therefore question why Mr Assange has been removed from the embassy by police officers and the timing of his arrest.
The top London immigration solicitors thought the arrest was probably a welcome distraction to some in the government from the Brexit woes. However, the images and timing of Mr Assange’s removal from the embassy and into British custody may raise almost as many Human Rights and Immigration issues as the daily news reports on Brexit and the rights of EU citizens.
The police have reportedly said that Julian Assange was arrested for failing to surrender to the British court in 2012. The failure to attend a London court hearing resulted in the magistrates issuing a warrant for his arrest. The warrant could not be executed whilst Mr Assange was under political Asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. Julian Assange was detained in custody after appearing at Westminster court to face the charge of failing to surrender to bail.
Even the best London immigration solicitors may struggle to remember the timeline for Mr Assange’s failure to answer to bail. The judicial system has a long memory with the arrest warrant dating back to 2012, when Julian Assange sought Asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. He said if he attended court, he could face extradition to Sweden and thereafter to the United States to face questioning and possible criminal charges over the activities of WikiLeaks.
The top London immigration solicitors are already being asked “why now?”. After all, Julian Assange has enjoyed Asylum and protection for nearly seven years from Ecuador. The best London immigration solicitors say UK Human Rights law and Asylum law on the sanctity of refuge in a foreign embassy has not changed. However, the major development leading to Julian Assange’s arrest was the decision by Ecuador's president, Lenin Moreno, to withdraw Mr Assange's Asylum. That decision was reportedly taken after Julian Assange’s repeated violations to international conventions, something that he vehemently denies.
How can OTS Solicitors help?
The daily onslaught of Brexit Immigration news and the press coverage of Julian Assange’s removal from the Ecuadorian embassy, where he claimed Asylum for nearly seven years, may make London feel like an increasing hostile environment for Asylum seekers and migrants.
That is why if you are concerned about a Human Rights claim, Asylum application or you want to challenge a Home Office ruling you need the best London immigration solicitors in your corner.
OTS Solicitors are specialist London immigration solicitors and can advise you on all the latest case law and policy developments to give your Human Rights, Asylum application or Home Office challenge the best chance of success.
OTS Solicitors specialise in all aspects of personal and business immigration law and have particular expertise in:
• Asylum and humanitarian protection claims; and
• Applications for Administrative Review; and
• Preparation of judicial review applications; and
• Certification challenges including Asylum and Human Rights claims where no appeal right has been given; and
• Challenges to unlawful detention and to the Detained Fast Track procedures;
• Detention and bail applications; and
• Deportation cases; and
• Representation at appeals at the First-tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunals.
Please call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 to arrange an appointment to speak to one of our experienced London immigration solicitors who will be happy to help you.
Asylum claims
The top London immigration solicitors will not forget the many years of images of Julian Assange at the windows and the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy or the reported tension between the co-founder of Wikileaks and Ecuadorean government officials. There have been recent allegations that the embassy carried out a spying operation against Julian Assange and acted illegally in terminating his political Asylum “in violation of international law”; whilst the embassy claimed, that Mr Assange had breached the rules laid down by them for the continuation of his Asylum in the embassy.
In December 2017, Ecuador gave Mr. Assange citizenship but once political Asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy was withdrawn, the British police were able to execute the 2012 arrest warrant. The best London immigration solicitors see today’s news as potentially the start of litigation with the potential for Sweden to renew its request for the extradition of Julian Assange. Although Sweden rescinded its arrest warrant, the prosecutors said the case could be recommenced. The United States has already acted by charging Julian Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and are seeking his extradition from the UK to face criminal proceedings in the USA.
UK Asylum law and the Asylum law rights of Asylum seekers
The top London immigration solicitors are experienced in the rights of those claiming Asylum in the UK. The Julian Assange case of receiving Asylum in an embassy for nearly seven years is highly unusual but an Asylum seeker in the UK has the right to:
• be treated fairly and lawfully regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation or any disability; and
• practise their own religion, although an Asylum seeker is expected to show respect for people of other faiths; and
• have their Asylum application considered fairly and accurately; and
• have access to support and accommodation provided that the Asylum seeker meet the requirements for access; and
• have access to health care from the National Health Service; and
• have legal representation.
Importantly, an Asylum seeker is not normally allowed to work whilst the Home Office assesses their Asylum application. As Asylum applications can take time to process it is important that Asylum seekers instruct the best London immigration solicitors to help with their Asylum and Human Rights claims.
How can OTS Solicitors help?
London based OTS Solicitors are specialist in Immigration law matters and have been recommended for Immigration law in the law directory, Legal 500. OTS Solicitors have Law Society accredited solicitors status as trusted specialists in Immigration law.
As experts in Immigration law, OTS Solicitors can answer all your Immigration concerns and help you with an Asylum application, human right claim or with challenging a Home Office decision. For advice on any aspect of Immigration law please call us on 0203 959 9123 to arrange an appointment to speak to one of our experienced London immigration solicitors who will be happy to help.