THE SECOND AND CONCLUSIVE HEARING ON THE FINAL APPEAL OF THE DEFENSE OF JULIAN ASSANGEAUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST AND CO-FOUNDER OF FOR WIKILEAK, AGAINST HIS HIGHLY CONTESTED EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS FROM THE UK TO THE USA, CONCLUDED A FEW MINUTES AGO IN THE HIGH COURT IN LONDON. THE VERDICT OF THE COURT ON A DATE TO BE DEFINED
In 2019, the Trump administration indicted Julian Assange, co-founder of WikiLeaksusing the law “Espionage Act” of 1917. This is because it published 700 thousand classified documents from American governmentwhich they revealed to the world war crimes fromAfghanistan all’Iraq and serious human rights violations on prisoners of Guantanamo.
The USA applied one espionage law against a journalist who disclosed information of public interest. The UK could have denied extradition to the US, where Assange faces a 175-year prison sentence. All organizations for defense of human rights and of freedom of the press they ask that the Australian journalist and activist not be extradited and that, instead, he be released.
The magistrates’ decision “it will essentially establish whether he will live or die”
For health reasons Julian Assange is not present in the courtroom but remained in Belmarsh prison, where he has been since 2019. The co-founder of WikiLeaks, in fact, his state of health is very precarious, weakened physically and psychologically due to detention. Therefore, the wife Star of Death during a public speech, he remarked that the decision of the magistrates “it will essentially establish whether he lives or dies.”
The High Court of the United Kingdom heard the arguments of the journalist’s defense against extradition. Assange’s lawyers argue that the accuse moves against him are mainly of a political nature. Consequently, they do not fall under extradition treaties. His defense is based on this premise. Furthermore, among the arguments highlighted by attorney Ed Fitzgerald, there is the CIA attempt to assassinate Julian Assangeduring his asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
If the Court rejects the defenders’ request, the only possibility left for them to avoid extradition would be to resort to European Court of Human Rights. Or, today could be the last hearing on English soil.
Before it makes a request for a temporary suspension of extradition, to have time to evaluate the appeal, it is possible that the United Kingdom will hand Assange into the hands of the American government.
Unfortunately, the information in the United States does not provide all the details necessary to understand the case, as if it were not of interest to them. In Europe, however, information is more active. Italy, France and Germany provide strong support for the matter.
Information is moving for Assange’s freedom
«For having worked as a journalist he has already spent 7 years as a political refugee and the last 5 as a prisoner Belmarshknown as the British Guantanamoundergoing constant psychophysical torture as recognized by Nils MelzerUN Special Rapporteur on torture»is written in a note from Committee for the Liberation of Julian Assange – Italy.
On October 29, 2022, theOrder of Journalists Italians gave Julian Assange’s father an honorary membership card. «He will be able to use it to demonstrate that he has carried out “acts” of journalism.”
The Order of Italian Journalists
«We have been asked what the Order of Italian Journalists has to do with Julian Assange? – argues the president of the Order Carlo Bartoli – The Order is involved because Assange defends a fundamental principle, he defends professional secrecy which for a journalist is the secrecy of sources. And the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe also say so. So when we defend Assange we are not defending a person, but a principle. Assange has carried out work in defense of journalism, suffering a very serious attack on the right to freedom of the press and it is clear that what is at stake is between knowing and not knowing and the dividing line is between democracy and dictatorship. These are the battles that we have the duty to do, to leave to our children and our grandchildren a democratic system that we must never abdicate.”
Journalists’ unions from all over Europe
On April 27, 2023, the president of the National Federation of the Italian Press, Victor of Trapaniin turn, gave Stella Moris, wife of the co-founder of WikiLeaks, the letter with which the journalists’ unions of nineteen European countries grant their Australian colleague honorary card.
«The case against Julian represents the most serious threat to press freedom in the world – he argued forcefully Star of Deathwife of Julian -. The truth is our last line of defense. I want my husband to come home but we must understand that his freedom concerns all of us and our right to live in a civilized society.”
Several Italian municipalities have awarded the honorary citizenship a Julian.
On Tuesday 20 February 2024, great mobilization in London, as well as in Italy in Milan, Rome, Naples and other cities.
Sources
ANSA
AfricaExpress
Committee for the Liberation of Julian Assange
National Press Federation
Order of Journalists
