EDINBURGH, May 20 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – Campaigners will petition the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, urging the government to grant NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden political asylum if Scotland becomes an independent country on September 18.
Former university lecturer Mick Napier is leading calls for Snowden, who is currently living in Russia under temporary asylum status, to be granted permanent sanctuary in Scotland.
“I think we all owe Edward Snowden a debt. He was very courageous,” Napier told RIA Novosti. “The uncontested information he has put in the public domain, citizens wouldn’t know about had it not been for Edward Snowden.”
Napier, who has been in contact with Snowden via his lawyer, told RIA Novosti that he believed support for his petition in parliament would send a wider message to the world that an independent Scotland wanted different policies than those imposed by the UK Government.
“I think with the referendum coming up on September 18, with the possibility of a yes to independence, that there is a clear body of opinion in Scotland that would like a clean break with the policies of London,” Napier said.
“That includes, not just the devastation of Iraq and other countries but an end to the security state,” Napier added. “Here is an opportunity for the Scottish Government to indicate it’s prepared to make the break.”
But Scottish Ministers have given a cautious response to the petition and so far refused to back calls to grant Snowden asylum if Scotland becomes independent.
“The First Minister has expressed ‘concern and alarm’ at the intrusion into the private lives of Scots by GCHQ and others, but it seems they are actually not prepared to take a step that might anger some of their allies in NATO and offer Edward Snowden asylum,” Napier told RIA Novosti.
In February, Snowden was elected by students of Glasgow University, one of the UK’s oldest academic institutions, to the position of rector. Previous postholders included Winnie Mandela, Mordechai Vanunu and former British Prime Minister Henry Asquith.
Napier pointed to Snowden’s popularity at Glasgow University as evidence of wider public support for the whistleblower’s actions.
“His election to the post of rector was a real gesture of defiance and resistance to the encroachments of the security state,” Napier added.
Scotland will hold an independence referendum on September 18. Voters will be asked one question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
