On June 19, 2012, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange entered the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to seek protection after the British government agreed to extradite him to Sweden for an alleged sexual assault case against two women. Since then, Assange has been unable to leave the premises of the embassy, due to a 24/7 watch on the building by the police.
Assange has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that the United States is persecuting him for publishing and maintaining the largest trove of explosive leaks in history. Assange believes that if he goes to Sweden, he will then be extradited to the United States, where he is wanted on espionage charges related to publishing classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010.
The classified documents published by Assange revealed the brutal and clandestine methods the United States government and its military used, especially regarding the country’s involvement in the wars’ in the Middle East.
In the latest news about whistleblower’s isolation, more than ten cities across the world have hosted a week of events marking the fourth consecutive year of his detention. The global event was dubbed ‘First they came for Assange.’ Participating cities included Athens, Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Milan, Montevideo, Naples, New York, Quito, Paris and Sarajevo. Assange himself joined the event online live from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Video: Noam Chomsky in support of Julian #Assange https://t.co/3sgRCGDh3W
Part of worldwide #FreeAssange events: https://t.co/ff800s9dB8— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 19, 2016
It featured prominent personalities including Noam Chomsky, Srećko Horvat, Slavoj Zizek, Yanis Varoufakis and Patti Smith, amongst others. They all had one message: Free Assange now.
“First they came after Julian Assange, then they came after Chelsea Manning, then they came after Edward Snowden… who is next?” the website dedicated for the global event on Assange’s freedom asked.
“We are gathering all around the world on [June 19] to speak out for Julian, because he has spoken out for all of us, we are speaking out before there is no-one left to speak out,” said Horvat, a Croatian philosopher and founder of the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025.
Video: Vivienne Westwood in support of Julian Assange https://t.co/hAdRfXDP3D
Part of worldwide #FreeAssange events: https://t.co/TQI2V7dZ8H— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 19, 2016
The winner of this year’s the Palme d’Or at Cannes, British filmmaker Ken Loach said he joined the event to call for the release, because Assange is a brave man in isolation, adding that the British legal system is being manipulated when it comes to the case of Assange.
“All who care about freedom of information should demand that the threats made against Julian should be lifted. He should be able to leave his place of safety without fear of deportation or being handed over to those who intend him harm,” Loach said.
In 2014, Assange filed an official complaint with the United Nations on Arbitrary Detention against Sweden and Britain. In February 2016, the United Nations ruled that Assange has been arbitrarily detained, calling for Britain and Sweden to free him.
The United Nations said in a statement: “The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considered that Mr. Julian Assange was arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
Video: @JeanMichelJarre in support of Julian #Assange https://t.co/1UvEIwBeOb
Part of worldwide #FreeAssange events: https://t.co/TQI2V7dZ8H— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 19, 2016
However, since the ruling, both countries have failed to comply. In the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the ruling is legally binding. This is because the ruling is based on international human rights law, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
According to the Assange’s lawyers, Assange is having health challenges as a result of his detention. It is said Assange is suffering from shoulder pain, and is in need of urgent dental care.
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