Dear Friends in the struggle to Free Julian Assange!
Please countersign this open letter to British Home Minister requesting the immediate release of Julian Assange. It is written by Caroline Lucas, Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion on the Green Party ballot.
The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP
Home Secretary
7 February 2021
Dear Home Secretary,
I write further to the high court ruling on 4th January preventing the extradition of Julian Assange to the US, on the grounds that “extradition would be oppressive by reason of mental harm”. As you will know, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that the US was incapable of preventing the Wikileaks founder from attempting to take his own life.
I share the widespread view that Mr Assange’s prosecution under the US Espionage Act set a dangerous precedent for press freedom and criminalised investigative journalism – in common with other journalists he should be protected by the European Convention on Human Rights and the right to freedom of speech. It is therefore deeply worrying that the Judge did not find the legal basis for extradition to the US was flawed and the UK has been complicit in putting media freedom and freedom of expression on trial.
There is a clear and compelling requirement for you to review the decision to order Julian Assange’s extradition to the US and ensure that he is released with immediate effect. I also wish to express my deep concern that he has been refused bail. Given Judge Baraitser’s clear warnings about Julian Assange’s mental health and the risk of suicide, it is particularly unacceptable for him to remain incarcerated any longer under the harsh conditions of high security detention at Belmarsh Prison. I further note the views of Amnesty International that Julian Assange should not have been jailed pending extradition in the first place; the charges against him were politically-motivated; and the UK government should never have so willingly assisted the US in its unrelenting pursuit of Assange.
If there is evidence that Julian Assange has committed any offences under UK law, he should be tried here and not detained arbitrarily on an ongoing basis without due process.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Total Number of Signatories: 1004
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As an Australian and by extension a citizen of the Commonwealth he is treated as a person with no civil or criminal protection or given aid. I’m embarrased to live in a parlimentary democracy which gives no hope or pity to his circumstances.
A morbid situation in today’s world. The words ‘democracy’ and ‘justice’ once upon a time implied a positive aspect of a civilized society. Since both practices were infected by incurable corruption, they are now, essentially, in a state of decay that only provides sustenance for maggots…
The state of ethics in our society is reflected in the cynicism of the State. It would be thought a normal rerqirement in a civilised and sentient nation that anyone becoming aware of a serious crime should perform the duty of telling their fellows – secrecy or no – and that to ensure it be done without fear or favour the nation guarantee that any performing that duty be protected absolutely from being got at by those who wish the crime to remain unknown’; because only then can we be living in a State not being ruled by criminals. The fact that all power including the media allowed Assange to suffer so that future criminality can proceed without our knowledge shows the retreat of the ethics of modern government in the face of onslaught by a regimen with pre Magna Carta levels of intimidation available to it. If you look under “Terrorism” in the OED you will find the definition as “Government by Intimidation” and that is what we have.
Wise words Pete! Thank you for posting!
Without charge. Without breaking laws in UK, AU or elsewhere, somehow five-eyes – primarily the UK Inc along with USA Inc is persecuting a whistleblowing Media Publisher exposing corruption and criminal activity. Assange is held without just cause and without bail. Time-served has been extreme already and the UK authorities have caused grave harm to Mr. Assange, his wife and young children and globally the UK actions threatens the safety of international journalists everywhere. We expect justice for Assange and Freedom of the Press to prevail.
How is it that without charge Assange is being held and unfairly treated, this goes against all things that a real government should stand for, the U.K actions are illegal, Might dose make it right.