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Here in our Hot Topics area, you'll find the newest essays covering up-to-date news and events. Each Hot Topics essay is 100% original and custom written to demonstrate the high quality of our writing. To receive your own custom written paper on any topic, click here and we will write a paper to meet your requirements and instructions.

The Answer to the Edward Snowden Debate


Despite revelations that the NSA has reportedly overstepped its constitutional (Fourth Amendment) limitations in respecting the privacy rights of millions of American citizens, the United States Department of Justice insists on ignoring any possibility of government wrongdoing (London & Kishore, 2013). Equally disturbing, political commentary by Washington bureaucrats and their media allies has taken on the types of rhetoric and vocal tones characteristic of a lynch mob. Washingtonians, in this respect, have forgone any acknowledgement of the possibility that Snowden acted out of conscience for the good of American society. At the same time, the most basic and fundamental of all legal rights, the presumption of innocence, has been thrown out the window in favor of charging Snowden with espionage - a crime potentially punishable by death (London & Kishore, 2013). In this "blood in the water" political atmosphere, the chances of Snowden receiving a fair and impartial trial in the United States appear slim to none. Snowden's fear of persecution for his political opinion is obviously well-founded. And as such, he certainly seems to meet the criteria of the United Nations for refugee status and eventual political asylum.

As a matter of tempering discussion, international law recognizes that it is sometimes necessary and justifiable, in the name of public interest, for individuals or groups of actors to expose wrongdoings and/or secrets of states. In particular, it may be "necessary to expose and protect against serious human rights violations, including overreaching or unjustifiable surveillance" (Human Rights Watch, 2013). The United States government not only has some serious questions to answer from its citizens but also the international community. From the American people, Washington needs to explain its indiscriminate collection of data and justification for the hypothetical usefulness of the data against potential future threats (Human Rights Watch, 2013). For nations like Germany and other European countries, the U.S. government needs to come clean and explain why it has been using advanced technology to spy on America's supposed allies. All considered, much remains to be discussed and debated regarding the necessity and justifiability of Snowden's whistleblowing in the name of international law. Affirmative findings would seem to add leverage to Snowden's claims of meeting the U.N. criteria for political asylum and/or refugee status.

In conclusion, despite President Maduro's recent announcement of approval of Edward Snowden's request for refugee status and eventual political asylum, the debate continues for many analysts as to whether or not Snowden meets the United Nations criteria for such status. Nevertheless, it does appear reasonable to conclude that Edward Snowden leaked NSA data as a matter of political opinion and conscience. Even more, the hard line rhetoric and "guilty before proven innocent" stance by the Obama Administration, the Department of Justice, and the allied media raise serious questions and doubts as to whether Snowden could ever receive a fair and impartial trial in the United States. All considered, a compelling argument emerges to support the claim that Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower, meets the U.N. criteria for political asylum and refugee status with his legitimate and reasonable fear of persecution for his political opinion.

References

Bray, I. (2013). Asylum or refugee status: Who is eligible? NOLO Law for All. Retrieved from http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/asylum-or-refugee-status-who-32298.html

Goodwin-Gill, G.S. (2008). Convention relating to the Status of Refugees Geneva, 28 July 1951; Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees New York, 31 January 1967. United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. Retrieved from http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/ha/prsr/prsr.html

Human Rights Watch. (2013, July 3). Countries Should Consider Snowden's Asylum Claim Fairly. Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/07/03/countries-should-consider-snowden-s-asylum-claim-fairly

Katz, A. & Rayman, N. (2013, July 2). Snowden's worst-case scenario: What if no countries take him? Time. Retrieved from http://world.time.com/2013/07/02/snowdens-worst-case-scenario-what-if-no-countries-take-him/

London, E. & Kishore, J. (2013, June 22). Edward Snowden charged with espionage. World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved from http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/06/22/snow-j22.html

Moussalli, M. (1992). Handbook on procedures and criteria for determining refugee status under the 1951 convention and the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved from http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/refugeehandbook.pdf

Sanchez, F. & Galeano, L.M. (2013, July 6). Nicaragua, Venezuela offer asylum to Snowden. ABC News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nicaragua-venezuela-offer-asylum-snowden-19592606#.UdgOZvl_68A

YOU.S.DESK. (2013, July 2). Snowden: I am free to publish information that serves public interest. PRESS-TV. Retrieved from http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/311796.html

UNHCR. (2007, May 18). Q & A: The world's 15 million stateless people need help. The UN Refugee Agency. Retrieved from http://www.unhcr.org/464dca3c4.html

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