Stella Assange:
“Julian needs freedom, we all need the truth”
Tuesday was the first of two days of hearings on the extradition of Julian Assange to the USA. The Wikileaks founder's lawyers presented their arguments to the court in London. Assange's wife Stella also attended the hearing.
She thanked hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London. "Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth," Stella Assange called out to the crowd. Assange's supporters also demonstrated elsewhere. In Vienna, for example, a demonstration was planned for the afternoon.
Lawyers: "Normal journalistic activity"
The 52-year-old, who has been in Belmarsh high-security prison in London for almost five years, was unable to attend the trial himself for health reasons. His lawyers argued that Assange was being prosecuted for "normal journalistic activity, obtaining and publishing secret information", the content of which was true and obviously of great public interest. He is a political prisoner and extradition is therefore prohibited by the agreement between the USA and the UK.
Here you can see a summary of the events.
Arguments from the US side on Wednesday
The counter-arguments from the US side will follow on Wednesday. The US government wants to put the Australian on trial on espionage charges. If convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison. Assange is accused of stealing and publishing secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan together with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, thereby endangering the lives of whistleblowers.
Until recently, it was not clear when exactly a decision on the appeal would be made. In any case, it is not expected directly on Wednesday. Stella Assange fears that the US government "discussed and made concrete plans to assassinate Julian, brushed aside by the British courts." His case "criminalizes not only the journalistic process, but also the public's right to know."
Australian government in favor of release
Before his arrest in April 2019, Assange had been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for several years in order to evade prosecution. The Australian government is now campaigning for the release of its citizen.
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