Assange helps case for EU extradition law

The parable of Julian Assange, holed-up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, at least had the merit of demonstrating that the European Arrest Warrant system, which is being used to apprehend the WikiLeaks co-founder, does in fact work, the Eurosceptic Daily Telegraph begrudingly admits.

Published on 22 August 2012 at 11:23

Perhaps the most annoying thing about Julian Assange (yes, I know it’s a long list) is that he is in danger of giving the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) a good name.

Maybe my memory is failing, but I don’t recall any of his supporters being critical of the EU’s fast-track extradition system when it was being debated 10 years ago. That is hardly surprising, since most of them are the type of people who would be enthusiastic cheerleaders for anything emanating from Brussels.

Doubtless, they looked upon those opposed to the creation of a common judicial area in Europe as swivel-eyed Europhobes. But maybe we had a point after all.

The dissembling around Assange has done great damage to the argument against the EAW. Amid all the sound and fury about American “witch-hunts”and British post-colonial bullying, we should remember the central issue: here is a man trying to avoid being extradited to face serious allegations of sexual assault.

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In implementing the EAW, the last government set aside a fundamental tenet of British law, something that Assange’s case has once again exposed.

But he has not been able to test whether he would have been extradited under the old system. His lawyers should bring a writ of habeas corpus to do just that as soon as he surrenders himself to the police, as he eventually must.

If the courts refuse to hear it, we will see how far our ancient protections have been eroded. […]

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