Hundreds of protesters converged outside the courts in London, as a 13-year legal battle unfolded inside, involving WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and his alleged spying activities in the United States. The air was filled with the sound of people using bullhorns to amplify their voices.
The protesters carried signs that said, “If Assange is gone, so is free speech and the truth” and “Imprisonment is for war crimes, not for whistleblowers.”
A child went above and beyond by creating a sign using Lego blocks.
Assange, aged 52, has been granted the opportunity to appeal his extradition to the U.S. This decision was made on Monday at London’s High Court. He is currently facing charges that are associated with the publication of classified documents by WikiLeaks.
Since 2019, the Australian editor has been kept in high-security custody in a London prison.
Assange, born as Julian Paul Hawkins and with a history of hacking since his teenage years, raised concerns about his ability to exercise his right to free speech during a trial in the U.S., as reported by Reuters. The High Court granted Assange permission to appeal, allowing him the opportunity to present his argument.
The demonstrators outside erupted into cheers.
According to Reuters, Assange’s legal team mentioned that in the event of his defeat, he would be on a plane to the United States within 24 hours.
According to Assange’s lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, the United States has made it clear that Assange will not be charged with a capital offense, thereby ruling out the possibility of him facing the death penalty.
According to U.S. prosecutor James Lewis, Assange will receive fair treatment in the upcoming hearing.
What is WikiLeaks?
The media organization was established in Australia back in 2006 with the purpose of disclosing confidential documents. It operates as a non-profit entity, relying on donations and media collaborations for funding. Assange reportedly drew inspiration from Daniel Ellsberg’s revelation of the Pentagon Papers in 1971.
According to its own description, WikiLeaks aims to be an untraceable and uncensorable platform for mass document leaking. The organization’s mission is to bring crucial news and information to the public.
According to the website, more than 10 million documents have been released, with the most recent publication taking place in 2021.
In 2007, a U.S. helicopter crew was responsible for the tragic deaths of Iraqi Reuters journalists and multiple civilians in Baghdad. This devastating incident was brought to light by WikiLeaks through the release of footage.
The non-profit organization has made public numerous U.S. military field logs documenting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They have also exposed corruption scandals in Kenya and at Icelandic fishing company Samherji. Additionally, they have brought to light the surveillance activities of the National Security Agency on the French president, as well as revealing sensitive emails from the governments of Syria and Turkey.
In the past, WikiLeaks received awards and accolades for its efforts in promoting transparency.
In 2010, The Guardian reported on attempts to discredit WikiLeaks, noting that there were allegations of low-level efforts to smear the organization, including claims related to financial matters.
In 2010, PayPal took action to suspend the WikiLeaks account after receiving a letter from the U.S. State Department, which deemed the organization’s activities as illegal within the country.
In 2014, WikiLeaks claimed responsibility for creating a counterfeit New York Times website and article, which was mistakenly attributed to Bill Keller.
The organization provided assistance to Edward Snowden, who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA), in his departure from Hong Kong.
During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, WikiLeaks actively promoted various conspiracy theories. Among these was the theory suggesting that the Democratic party was involved in the murder of staffer Seth Rich.
During the 2016 presidential election, it came to light that WikiLeaks had been exchanging messages with Donald Trump Jr. via their Twitter account. The Atlantic disclosed that WikiLeaks had encouraged the Trump campaign to dispute the election results in the event of a loss. Furthermore, the organization used its Twitter platform to share articles insinuating that John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, had been involved in satanic rituals. These tweets were widely condemned for their antisemitic nature.
Arresting Julian Assange
In 2008, Ernst Uhrlau, the former president of BND in Germany, issued a threat to WikiLeaks, demanding the removal of reports that were connected to the intelligence agency. He warned of potential criminal prosecution if the requested action was not taken.
According to the Manhunting Timeline of the NSA, Assange was included in 2010. In a statement by Harold Koh, the legal adviser of the Department of State, it was noted that the release of U.S. diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks was a clear violation of U.S. law. Koh emphasized the grave consequences of this action and highlighted that as long as WikiLeaks continues to possess such material, the ongoing violation of the law persists.
The NSA considered labeling WikiLeaks as a “malicious foreign actor.”
In 2010, Assange faced a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden. After losing his appeal and breaching bail, he sought refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London.
In 2019, Assange lost his asylum status due to conflicts with Ecuadorian authorities. The embassy allowed the police to enter, leading to his arrest. Assange faced charges for violating the Bail Act and was subsequently sentenced to 50 weeks in prison.
In 2019, the U.S. made an attempt to extradite Assange after unsealing an indictment against him. The charges included conspiracy and violating the Espionage Act.
In 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions made it clear that the United States government had placed a high priority on apprehending Assange.
“We are deeply concerned about the alarming number of leaks, some of which are highly significant,” he remarked. “Given our extensive experience in the security industry, we are appalled by this situation. Therefore, addressing this issue has become a top priority for us. We have already taken significant measures to intensify our efforts, and we are determined to take legal action against those responsible for such breaches, with the aim of securing their imprisonment.”
In the next year, the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit worth millions of dollars in Manhattan. The lawsuit was directed towards Russia, the Trump campaign, WikiLeaks, and Julian Assange. The lawsuit was based on alleged conspiracy theories.
In 2019, media organizations reported that journalists were given a “confidential legal communication not for publication” which included a list of 140 things that should not be said about Assange.
