- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- news@beehaw.org
JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE
Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stanstead airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.
This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations. This created the space for a long period of negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a deal that has not yet been formally finalised. We will provide more information as soon as possible.
After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars.
WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles,and for the people’s right to know.
As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom.
Julian’s freedom is our freedom.
[More details to follow]
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This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum
Yeah that’s gonna be a hard disagree from me, dawg. The DOJ dgaf about any of that.
More precisely, he’s accepted a plea bargain that would guarantee immediate release; he still needs approval from a judge on the 26th before he’s officially home free. He’s currently heading for (or at) some US territory that’s closer to China and Australia.
Well he is already broken and whatever praise he once was showered in has been replaced with heaps of “supported Trump” and “Russian agent”. Just look at other threads covering the story. The system won.
Credit to the Australian members of parliament who haven’t let this go:
[Prime Minister Anthony] Albanese has said he raised the matter directly with the US, including with the president, Joe Biden, during his visit to Washington in October 2023.
In February this year, Albanese and cabinet members supported a motion put forward by independent MP Andrew Wilkie urging the UK and US to allow Assange to return home to Australia.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, said he also raised the matter with his US counterpart, Merrick Garland, during a meeting in January this year.
After he spent how many years in this embassy almost as a hostage and a prisoner with deteriorating physical and mental health. I can’t even imagine what it was even like.
Lucky they weren’t couped like Gough. Even the USA’s allies aren’t immune to the CIA if they get too uppity
The threat of a bloodless coup is that the next one won’t be, so I think this small defiance is a test. Australia had zero leverage here and pushed anyway. It also gains them nothing aside from removing support for Assange as something that other parties can run on.
I’m hoping that we act out more in future.
I know this isn’t the core of the story but I’m kinda proud of my country (The UK) for not fucking this up.
I think the UK Justice system did it’s job here, albeit keeping him detained for a lengthy duration to do it.
How messed up are things in the UK if that’s something that makes you feel proud?
I guess you gotta celebrate the wins when you can no matter how messed up the situation is! :)
