By Mayukh Saha
The co-founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is to remain in prison even after his term ends due to his “history of absconding,” as reported by a judge. He is “crumbling” psychologically and physically, as Chris Hedges reports. Hedges attended Julian Assange’s wedding to his partner Stella Moris at London’s Belmarsh prison. Assange has been behind bars for nearly three years awaiting possible extradition to the United States on espionage charges for publishing documents revealing war crimes committed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hedges says Assange exposed the “most important information” of this generation, along with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
He was supposed to be released on September 22, 2019, after serving his sentence for breaching bail conditions. The Magistrate’s Court in Westminster believed that he would abscond again on “substantial grounds.”
He was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he took refuge in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations – which he has denied.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Friday told Assange, who appeared by video link:
“You have been produced today because your sentence of imprisonment is about to come to an end. When that happens your remand status changes from a serving prisoner to a person facing extradition.”
She said that his lawyer had declined to make an application for bail on his behalf, adding “perhaps not surprisingly in light of your history of absconding in these proceedings”.
“In my view, I have substantial ground for believing if I release you, you will abscond again.”
Aitor Martinez Tells Julian Assange’s Story, Shared That His Life Was Being Destroyed In Prison
Julian Assange’s lawyer, Aitor Martinez, came to the forefront and expressed his feelings and shared how Assange was doing in the prison.
He shared how Assange was being “tortured,” as per some reports, and was living a “real nightmare.”
The reporter from 60 Minutes Australia asked him if Julian would keep fighting in this condition or would he eventually give up, to which the lawyer replied, “No, he will keep fighting.” Julian Assange has been suffering this persecution for 12 years and has the support of his entire team, to date.
The lawyer added:
“He has been living isolated for 12 years, without any rights.
What was the crime?
Publishing truthful information.
The US committed war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and it is the duty of the whole international community to prosecute those crimes.
The journalist that published those war crimes is in jail and the people who committed those crimes are not even under investigation.”
This was “absolutely crazy” as stated by Aitor Martinez.
Julian Assange had asked for asylum from the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2012 and Ecuador dropped the news on the US and asked if there were any criminal actions against Julian. The US did not give a straightforward answer.
When Ecuador inquired to Australia if they would provide any diplomatic protection to its citizen, they simply denied it, according to Aitor. They denied it and added that “it was a domestic matter for the UK.”
Julian Assange did not receive any help from the consulate nor did he have a passport, as his own had expired.
Source: Truth Theory
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