Julian Assange was recognized on his first trip outside Australia since his release. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe declared him a “political prisoner” in a resolution voted on Wednesday after hearing the founder of WikiLeaks the day before. The text was adopted with 88 votes in favor, 13 against and 20 abstentions, among which are the deputies of the PP of Alberto Núñez Feijóo (other members of his political family supported the declaration).
“The Assembly considers that the disproportionately serious charges brought by the United States of America against Julian Assange under the Espionage Act, which expose him to a de facto risk of life imprisonment, combined with his conviction and sentence under the Espionage Act (…) justify the designation of Mr. Assange as a political prisoner,” the text reads.
The organization’s resolution, in which 46 countries from the continent are represented, also calls on the United States to amend its espionage law so that it is no longer used against journalists or whistleblowers. In fact, MEPs consider that an “incorrect use” of this 1917 rule was made in the Assange affair, causing “a dangerous dissuasive effect, discouraging publishers, journalists and whistleblowers from reporting on government misconduct.”
In addition, it calls on the country (which is an observer country with the Council of Europe) to carry out “thorough, impartial and transparent” investigations into the war crimes and human rights violations revealed by WikiLeaks, in no longer cooperate with the judicial authorities. investigates complaint of spying by the CIA during his stay at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.
Assange appeared before MPs on Tuesday and recounted his legal and personal battle over the past 14 years until reaching an agreement with the American justice system. “I am not free because the system worked, but because I declared myself guilty of doing journalism. “I pleaded guilty to seeking information from a source,” said the WikiLeaks founder, who admitted he now had to “readjust” to life on the loose.
“I hope that my testimony today will serve to highlight the weaknesses of existing guarantees and to help those whose cases are less visible, but who are just as vulnerable,” he defended during his speech, in which he spoke slowly and with several interruptions to clarify things. throat and drinking water.
Assange’s trip to Strasbourg was his first departure from Australia since returning after striking the deal with the United States, meaning he cannot sue over the harassment he suffered during these 14 years, when WikiLeaks published thousands of diplomatic cables. with relevant information that shed light on US military irregularities in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was there that his legal persecution began, which led to his being incarcerated for more than a decade.
