14 DAY TRIAL // As the last days of Edward Snowden’s asylum in Russia are drawing closer, the whistleblower’s supporters are trying to convince their governments to offer a helping hand to the man who told the world the truth about the extent of the mass surveillance apparatus controlled by the United States.
While others have done the same in the past, now the focus is on the French activists asking the government and President Francois Holland to offer Snowden asylum. Over 150,000 people have signed the petition showing support for the whistleblower.
Perhaps more impressive is the fact that this year’s petition in favor of Snowden has received more signatures than the White House petition did in the same amount of time. The French document was launched on June 3 and in 10 days, it managed to attract the support of 150,000 people after news magazine L’Express published a manifesto saying that France was a country of human rights and freedom of the press. This means, they said, that the country had an obligation towards Snowden.
“We, intellectuals, philosophers, researchers, journalists, but before all active citizens, demand Francois Hollande, president of the republic, Manuel Valls, prime minister, Laurent Fabius, foreign minister, welcome Snowden as a political refugee without delay in France,” the petition demands.
The document also points out that the Constitution states that any person persecuted for their actions in favor of freedom has the right of asylum in France.
The petition itself raises a pretty strong case for Snowden and its popularity certainly tells a story about how important it is for these people to protect the whistleblower.
It remains to be seen whether or not the French authorities respond positively to the request or they put more value on the diplomatic relationship that the country has with the United States. It is likely, however, that even if the president or the prime minister address the topic of the petition, they’ll mention the fact that Snowden has to be on the country’s soil in order to demand asylum, something that numerous nations have said before.
Edward Snowden has been in Russia for a year. His temporary asylum will expire on July 31 and while he could ask for its renewal, the whistleblower has expressed his desire to move to another country on several occasions.
Technically, he could ask for a renewal of his asylum since nothing much has changed about his situation in the year that has passed.