Image by Alisdare Hickson via Flickr
Amnesty International
April 20, 2022
If the UK Home Secretary certifies the US request to extradite Julian Assange, it will violate the prohibition against torture and set an alarming precedent for publishers and journalists around the world, Amnesty International said today following the UK Magistrates’ Court’s decision to issue an order to extradite him.
The case will now be sent to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, who will decide whether or not to certify the US request by 18 May.
“The UK has an obligation not to send any person to a place where their life or safety is at risk and the government must not abdicate that responsibility. The US authorities have flatly stated that they will change the terms of Assange’s imprisonment in a federal facility whenever they see fit. This admission places Julian Assange at great risk of prison conditions that could result in irreversible harm to his physical and psychological well-being,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“The extradition of Julian Assange would also be devastating for press freedom and for the public, who have a right to know what their governments are doing in their name.”
“Publishing information that is in the public interest is a cornerstone of media freedom. Extraditing Julian Assange to face allegations of espionage for publishing classified information would set a dangerous precedent and leave journalists everywhere looking over their shoulders.”
Prolonged solitary confinement is a regular occurrence in the USA’s maximum security prisons. The practice amounts to torture or other ill treatment, which is prohibited under international law. The assurances of fair treatment offered by the USA in the Assange case are deeply flawed and could be revoked at any time.
Extradition to the USA would put Julian Assange at risk of serious human rights violations, and hollow diplomatic assurances cannot protect him from such abuse.
If the UK government allows a foreign country to exercise extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction to prosecute a person publishing from the UK, other governments could use the same legal apparatus to imprison journalists and silence the press far beyond the borders of their own countries.
“The charges against Assange should never have been brought in the first place. It is not too late for the US authorities to set things right and drop the charges,” said Agnes Callamard.
“In the meantime, given the politically motivated nature of the case and its grave implications for freedom of expression, the UK should refrain from representing the USA in any further appeals.”
© Amnesty International 2022. Except where otherwise noted, content in Amnesty International Materials is licensed under a Creative Commons (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives, international 4.0) licence.
The Assange Family Struggle
Consortium News on Apr 20, 2022
Julian Assange will later today appear in Westminster Magistrates Court where an extradition order will be issued. Consortium News will be reporting live from the courtroom. We talk to his father John Shipton, brother Gabriel and Ben Lawrence, director of the film ‘Ithaka’ which documents the Assange family struggle and is now screening in Australian cinemas.
See also:
Order For Assange Extradition Sent By British Court To Home Office, by Kevin Gosztola
From the archives:
John Pilger: The Supreme Court Refusal to Hear Julian Assange’s Appeal
Chris Hedges: Wedding Speech for Julian Assange + Craig Murray Barred From Attending the Wedding
Chris Hedges and John Pilger: Julian Assange Can Appeal To The UK Supreme Court
Stella Morris: Make No Mistake, We Won Today In Court + Julian Assange Can Appeal Extradition
Chris Hedges and John Shipton: Slow-motion Execution of Julian Assange
The Judicial Kidnapping of Julian Assange, by John Pilger
Image by Alisdare Hickson via Flickr
Dandelion Salad 
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Correct me if I’m wrong, as I’ve never read the book, but after her defeat didn’t Hilary Clinton claim Julian Assange was a Russian asset? This seems to be the rationale for his persecution. The Guardian and others certainly have more than a lot to account for. What used to be ‘high horse’ exemption has mutated into the polluting privilege and sanctity of private jets. Blatant disinformation exacerbating the glorification of faux-status, is a lethal and iniquitous curse.
Yes, I believe she did and therefore, “Russiagate” was born.
A total travesty, and a real test for those who claim to support a free press and free speech. It has been particularly frustrating to see the so-called ‘Left’ in the USA abandon, even attack, Julian, all under the guise of the original and thrown out charges against him.
Yes, and also the “left” as in democrats who blamed WikiLeaks for Trump’s 2016 election (Russiagate).
Well, since in most of the world the Democrats would be considered a right-wing party, I don’t ever put any faith in them to do the right thing. But yeah, Russiagate was a complete farce.
Agree.