Diplomatic Immunity

“What Is Diplomatic Immunity? _x000D_
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The system of diplomatic immunity goes back to ancient times, when the Greek and Roman regimes offered special status to diplomats. Diplomatic immunity by definition allows foreign envoys to function and work under the laws of their own country rather then the host countrys laws while overseas. This guaruantees that foreign represenstatives are given secure passage and are not at risk of lawsuit or persecutions within the forgein country’s laws. While abroad diplomats and their families can not be arrested; have their houses or papers either searched or seized and their personal belongings can not be taxed. Although diplomats can be expelled for committing a crime, they cannot be prosecutted by the host country. Instead they face prosecusion in their home country. _x000D_
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Do We Really Need It?_x000D_
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Ancient Romans introduced diplomatic immunity to protect their ambassadors while they were living abroad.  But in the times we are living in right now, these laws need to be changed so diplomats can no longer have access to their get out of jail free card. (what is diplomatic immunity? jan/16/02)  In some situations, diplomatic immunity results in unfortunate circumstances where protected diplomats have engaged in serious crimes. In the case of Andrei Knyazev, immunity should have been waived due to the severity of the incident; he had killed a woman and was still allowed to face trial in his home country rather than face prosecution by the host country.  In the seventeenth century European diplomats understood that protection from prosecution or persecution was vital to doing their jobs. However, in the 21st century dimplomatic imminuty should be amended so that the host countrys laws would apply to dimplomats. We are not in barbaric times where forgein represenstatives should fear persecusion. Additionally most diplomats are delegates of nations with a custom of professional public service. Consequen… “