# taz.de -- Documentation of Snowden's letter: „Speaking the Truth is not a Crime“
> „My government [...] seeks to criminalize political speech“,
> whistleblower Edward Snowden writes in a letter to Germany.
IMG Bild: Edward Snowden in Russia, where he has been granted temporary asylum.
To whom it may concern,
I have been invited to write to you regarding your investigation of mass
surveillance.
I am Edward Joseph Snowden, formerly employed through contracts or direct
hire as a technical expert for the United States National Security Agency,
Central Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency.
In the course of my service to these organizations, I believe I witnessed
systemic violations of law by my government that created a moral duty to
act. As a result of reporting these concerns, I have faced a severe and
sustained campaign of persecution that forced me from my family and home. I
am currently living in exile under a grant of temporary asylum in the
Russian Federation in accordane with international law.
I am heartened by the response to my act of political expression, in both
the United States and beyond. Citizens around the world as well as high
officials – including in the United States – have judged the revelation of
an unaccountable system of pervasive surveillance to be a public service.
These spying revelations have resulted in the proposal of many new laws and
policies to address formerly concealed abuses of the public trust. The
benefits to society of this growing knowledge are becoming increasinlgy
clear at the same time claimed risks are being shown to have been
mitigated.
Though the outcome of my efforts has been demonstrably positive, my
government continues to treat dissent as defection, and seeks to
criminalize political speech with felony charges that provide no defense.
However, speaking the truth is not a crime. I am confident that with the
support of the international community, the government of the United States
will abandon this harmful behavior. I hope that when the difficulties of
this humanitarian situation have been resolved, I will be able to cooperate
in the responsible finding of fact regarding reports in the media,
particularly in regard to the truth and authenticity of documents, as
appropriate and in accordance with the law.
I look forward to speaking with you in your country when the situation is
resolved, and thank you for your efforts in upholding the international
laws that protect us all.
With my best regards
[signed ]Edward Snowden
31 October 2013
witnessed by Hans-Christian Ströbele (Member of the Bundestag)
A scan of the original letter may be found on [1][Hans-Christian Ströbele's
website].
1 Nov 2013
## LINKS
DIR [1] http://www2.stroebele-online.de/upload/brief_snowden_englisch.pdf
## AUTOREN
DIR Edward Snowden
## TAGS
DIR Edward Snowden
DIR USA
DIR NSA
DIR Whistleblower
DIR No-Spy-Abkommen
DIR Tempora
DIR Hans-Christian Ströbele
DIR Hans-Christian Ströbele
DIR Edward Snowden
## ARTIKEL ZUM THEMA
DIR Kommentar No-Spy-Abkommen: Zupf mal einer am Blümchen
Die US-Regierung hat wenig Interesse daran, Deutschland Zugeständnisse zu
machen. Es ist wieder Zeit für Trübsal – und für Eigeninitiative.
DIR Datenskandal und Drohnenkrieg: Schafft ein, zwei, viele Websites
2013 ist das Jahr, in dem das Internet endgültig zur Waffe wurde. Und zwar
ganz anders als gedacht. So kann es nicht weitergehen.
DIR Ströbele, Snowden und Asyl: Versuchen wir das Unmögliche
Christian Ströbele landet mit seinem Moskau-Besuch einen Coup. Und er sucht
nach einem Weg, dem Whistleblower Asyl in Deutschland zu gewähren.
DIR Kommentar Grüner Politiker bei Snowden: Danke, Christian Ströbele!
Mit seinem Besuch bei Edward Snowden beweist der junggebliebene Grüne, was
alles möglich ist, wenn Politik die ausgetretenen Pfade verlässt.
DIR Brief von Edward Snowden: „Die Wahrheit ist kein Verbrechen“
„Meine Regierung strebt danach, politische Meinungsäußerung zu
kriminalisieren“, schreibt der Whistleblower an die Bundesregierung.