#ArbitrarilyDetained
Controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been thrown a lifeline after a UN panel ruled today that he had been “arbitrarily detained” — and lawyers can’t help but poke fun at the ruling.
44 year-old Assange has been camped out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London’s Knightsbridge for three years now, in fear that if he leaves he will be arrested and sent to Sweden to face rape charges.
Sweden’s extradition laws mean that Assange risks being deported to the USA, where he could well face a hefty prison sentence for his involvement in the contentious Wikileaks project.
Today the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) gave its much-awaited opinion on the matter. They held — pretty shockingly — that Assange is being arbitrarily detained by the Swedish and UK governments, and called for him to be paid compensation, even though he has imprisoned himself in the embassy.
Lawyers just aren’t very happy about the opinion, and where better to go to vent your frustration than Twitter?
Have read the full WGAD #Assange report – poorly reasoned and unpersuasive. Not the UN’s finest day https://t.co/Wmq2YGHiBi
— Philippe Sands (@philippesands) February 5, 2016
This is the stuff that gives human rights law a bad name.
— anya (@anyabike) February 5, 2016
The daftest human rights opinion you will ever read. https://t.co/XOXQGjIU57
— David Allen Green (@DavidAllenGreen) February 5, 2016
Taxpayer could have put Assange up in Claridges for what this has cost us. Sooner he voluntarily Ecuadrexits the better for all concerned.
— Max Hardy (@maxbarrister) February 5, 2016
When we spoke to lawyer and legal commentator David Allen Green about the frenzy, he told us:
Legal Twitter is at its best when quickly analysing a just published legal instrument or emerging news story. And, if there is shoddy law involved, as with this UN panel opinion, legal Twitter can be brutal.
With the Twitterati tearing the ruling to shreds, Vladimir Tochilovsky — sole dissenter on the UN panel — has come up trumps in this social media storm.
Are we too late to nominate Mr Tochilovsky for an honorary QC?
— Sean Jones (@seanjonesqc) February 5, 2016
Vladimir Tochilovsky, the author of that sensible dissent, is on Twitter as @tochilov_ . Thank you Sir for doing that.
— David Allen Green (@DavidAllenGreen) February 5, 2016
When Legal Cheek got in touch with Pump Court Chambers’ Matthew Scott, who has been tweeting about the ruling, he said:
I think the dissenting judgment says everything that needs to be said, in about 1/8th of the words, and without any Latin.
Before adding:
3 cheers for the Ukrainian guy.
While Tochilovsky is lapping up the Twitter love, the UN opinion is being met with increasing hostility — and has fallen foul to the, now trending, hashtag #arbitrarilydetained.
#arbitrarilydetained pic.twitter.com/NCeng5a6im
— Tom Barfield (@tombarfield) February 5, 2016
Minor delays on the Victoria line due a train being arbitrarily detained at Seven Sisters.
— TLF Travel Alerts (@TlfTravelAlerts) February 5, 2016
My bus is five minutes late. I'm being #arbitrarilydetained at the bus stop. Send lawyers. 🙁
— Andreas Kjeldsen (@AndreasKjeldsen) February 5, 2016
#arbitrarilydetained pic.twitter.com/USElcq5Px8
— Smiffy (@smiffy_73) February 5, 2016
I walked into my house and locked the door behind me. #arbitrarilyDetained . Where do I apply for compensation?
— HunnyBunny (@boxofbudgies) February 5, 2016
#arbitrarilydetained pic.twitter.com/tj71ULewbB
— Smiffy (@smiffy_73) February 5, 2016
#ArbitrarilyDetained pic.twitter.com/4WbKNSmTah
— Cromerty York (@Cromerty) February 4, 2016
And lawyers are, of course, throwing in their two cents as well.
I have to stay in today waiting for a ParcelForce delivery. I hope the UN is taking note. #arbitrarilydetained
— Legal Bizzle (@LegalBizzle) February 5, 2016
Currently stuck in my room in Chambers doing legal opinions. Can't leave.
I WANT MY COMPENSATION.#arbitrarilydetained
— Simon Myerson QC (@SCynic1) February 5, 2016
You can always count on lawyers to get in on the action.