RSF meets Assange in prison before extradition hearing: “He would not be able to survive in America”

The last time Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Secretary General and Campaign Director, respectively, Christophe Deloyer and Rebecca Vincent, visited Julian Assange in Belmarsh maximum security prison (United Kingdom), they found him in very poor conditions. “Clearly “He was unwell and in pain, he had a broken rib due to excessive coughing due to the respiratory disease.”Explain the organization’s directors in an article published on February 18 Guardian,

Assange has been meeting in prison for years. A mission full of obstacles, Explain from RSF. In April 2023, the Governor of Belmarsh Prison (United Kingdom), jenny lewis, prevented Delory and Vincent from meeting Assange, even though they had permission to do so. The competent authorities’ argument was that “intelligence” had informed them that both were journalists.

The objectives of Reporters Without Borders and its members are not secret: it is an international NGO that defends freedom of information and supports those who are persecuted for exercising this right. As part of its mission, the organization attempts to visit imprisoned journalists in various regions of the world. After months of political and legal controversy, Belmarsh lifts veto on RSF, allowing them to meet Assange in August 2023,

but this Those aren’t the only hurdles NGOs have faced Pursuant to Assange’s judicial process in the United Kingdom. He also had to fight when he tried to comply with an extradition hearing, which is being considered by Woolwich Crown Court in 2021. As he reported at the time, the audio connection was so uncertain – if not, non-existent – ​​that Prevented journalists and outside observers from following procedure properly,

Nor has the WikiLeaks founder been able to attend several hearings on his case in British courts. The last time he was able to participate in it was on January 6, 2021, Since then he has lived within the walls of Belmarsh, where he has been in preventive detention for five years.

Next 20th and 21st February However, the final hearing on his extradition will take place You will not be able to be physically present For this audience. In fact, It is believed that he will not be able to follow them also video linkAs confirmed public protect him.

Representatives of independent international organizations agree that living at Belmarsh has had a profound impact on Assange’s physical and mental health. It has been added to the strict visitation system The publisher is facing material obstacles, For example, years of deprivation typewriterTo which he gained access thanks to three years of requests and the mediation of RSF.

Assange himself condemned the new coronation in an open letter King of England, Charles III, terrible living conditions existed in the maximum security prison. In a letter dated May 2023, the WikiLeaks founder invited the monarch to visit the prison to taste the “ubiquitous processed foods made from battered tuna heads and chicken, allegedly” that prisoners were given in their rooms. One has to eat in solitude. Cells, since there is no communal dining room, as described by the Australian. He also urged them to rejoice “in this” Picturesque crows that nest on wire fences and with hundreds of hungry rats Who live in Belmarsh.”

Following Assange’s last visit to Belmarsh, Deloyer and Vincent described the WikiLeaks founder’s position as “disappointing and unfair”, but stressed that “Extradition and long-term detention in the US would make the situation worse than he would be able to escape.”,

Alice Jill EdwardsThe UN envoy on torture warned London about the “precarious” state of Assange’s mental health, suffering from a “long-term and recurring” depressive disorder. Edwards believes that Assange’s extradition and possible detention in solitary confinement for long periods of time, as well as his exposure to “treatment tantamount to torture”, would worsen his fragile state of health.

This diagnosis matches that mentioned by the UN envoy, nils meltzerwho announced after meeting Assange in 2019 that, unless journalists’ conditions in prison improved, his “continued exposure to arbitrary detention and ill-treatment could cost him his life.”

What was Assange’s health condition?In fact, sole argument presented by the defense that judge Vanessa Baraitser, of Woolwich Crown Court. i agree Declining extradition to the US. However, this decision was overturned when the US judge argued that he would use all means at his disposal to protect Assange’s integrity and well-being.

The other seven arguments – the grounds of appeal – were rejected. by various levels of the English judicial establishment. Among them, the political dimension of the matter came to the fore Assange faced espionage and was protected by the CIAor even Risk that US judge will expand his charge After Assange’s extradition. On 20 and 21 February, the High Court of the United Kingdom will once again evaluate whether these points of appeal will be accepted for processing, in what would be the last national scenario in which Julian Assange would be able to face his extradition.

case against freedom of information

According to RSF and other journalist organizations, the defense of Assange is a cause for freedom of information and publication. According to several organizations, this is the first time that the US Justice Department will sue a publisher for publishing confidential information. “This would set a dangerous precedent for journalists and media organizations who publish stories based on leaked information “There will be a devastating impact on public interest reporting.”Deloire and Vicente explain in their article.

those days, With this information the crimes committed by American soldiers could be exposed. in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as spying on political leaders around the world, such as former French President Nicolas Sarkozy or former Italian Prime Minister silvio berlusconi,

In the specific case of Spain, information published on WikiLeaks He revealed that the US Embassy in Spain pressured the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to stop the investigation from continuing. Murder of Telecinco cameraman, jose cusoCommitted by US troops while covering the Iraq War in 2003.

Considering the impact that a massive leak could have on other journalistic investigations, the importance of access to this information to the health of democracy is undeniable. This is what happened with The Pentagon Papers in the early 70s – which helped stop sending troops to Vietnam – or more recently panama papersResearch done by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) Which put in the spotlight leaders and businessmen from half the world, such as the President of Syria, Bashar Al Assad or former leader of Argentina mauricio macri,

Due to leaks published on WikiLeaks, US Justice has accused Julian Assange of committing 18 crimes: one of them belongs to A computer crime and the rest, with Violation of Espionage Act, If his extradition to the United States is successful, the Australian journalist could face up to 175 years in prison. Currently, Assange’s fate is in the hands of a British judge, who must decide this week whether to accept the defense’s arguments against extradition or, otherwise, hand Assange over to Washington for processing.