Journalists are killed, scientists are accused of espionage, and Mikhail Khodorkovsky remains unjustly imprisoned.

So far, the US authorities have focused on bringing Snowden home to face espionage charges.

The independent expert raised the case of Zamzam Ahmed Dualeh, the imprisoned 17 year old girl accused of espionage and sentenced to five years' incarceration in a  Somaliland prison (see paragraph 33 above), noting that the minor was reported to be in danger and that perhaps the case had attracted disproportionate international attention, but that a resolution could be found.

One need only recall the recent case of Wen Ho Lee, the Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist who was unjustly accused of spying, to be reminded of how yin and yang are America s feelings about minority members in sensitive positions.

On December 9, 2012, Khartabil was brought before a military prosecutor without an attorney present, and charged with spying for an enemy State . He was then sent to the Adra Prison in Damascus, where he has been held, until today.

So far, the US authorities have focused on bringing Snowden home to face espionage charges. But it is in America s national interest to ensure that the Vienna Convention is respected without question and as a matter of routine in order to ensure the safety and inviolability of its own missions abroad.

In another disturbing case, a Houthi court in the capital Sana'a, sentenced journalist Yahya al Jubaihi, in arbitrary detention since September 2016, to death, following what rights groups described as an unfair trial. The prominent 61 year old writer and journalist was convicted of spying for Saudi Arabia.

Especially in the case of Chinese, fears of divided national loyalties and fifth columns have been strong. One need only recall the recent case of Wen Ho Lee, the Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist who was unjustly accused of spying, to be reminded of how yin and yang are America s feelings about minority members in sensitive positions.