Stella Morris: ‘Julian Assange’s case has set a brand new world customary in freedom of the press’

The rally occurred in place de la Monnaie, in central Brussels, on 23 April, and was organised by Free Assange Wave, with the assist of Do not Extradite Assange (DEA), Reporters With out Borders and Amnesty Worldwide. A number of public figures, like former Labour celebration chief Jeremy Corbyn, former Iceland Inside minister Ögmundur Jónasson, Ernest Sagaga from the Worldwide federation of journalists, or lawyer Deepa Driver spoke in assist of Julian Assange’s liberation and in opposition to his extradition to the US within the title of freedom of expression and of the rule of regulation.

Voxeurop: We’re within the remaining section of Julian Assange’s extradition process. What are the subsequent steps?

Stella Morris: There are nonetheless some appeals within the UK course of accessible to us, as soon as the House Secretary Priti Patel approves the extradition – if she does so. Then we are able to attraction to the Excessive Courtroom, and doubtlessly to the Supreme Courtroom. However in the end, the almost definitely state of affairs is that it finally ends up earlier than the European Courtroom of Human Rights (ECHR), which might subject a binding resolution that may block the extradition. That is why it’s so necessary for the European Continent to know what’s at stake: As soon as it reaches the ECHR, the case will create jurisprudence that may have an effect on the scope of press freedom for journalists inside the European area. 

The significance of this case couldn’t be better: It’s incorrect to suppose that it solely impacts Julian Assange, or Wikileaks, or the US. The US prosecution has successfully criminalised journalistic exercise. There’s a political persecution in opposition to Julian, and on this course of, a brand new customary has been set by which journalists in every single place are in danger, not simply because they may threat being extradited to the USA, but in addition as a result of it has created a brand new world customary. 

The US has lengthy been a defender of free speech, however it’s now furthering essentially the most harmful assault on free speech, each authorized and political, via this case that reaches past its borders and into overseas jurisdictions. International international locations will reap the benefits of this and apply the identical ideas. So when you can go after journalists wherever, you simply want a cooperative authorities, and there are many international locations who persecute dissidents and need to persecute journalists, and have cooperative allies inside the European area. It’s a horrible case for press freedom and for what it means in Europe.

It additionally sends the sign that not solely will there by no means be justice for the victims of crimes dedicated by states, and anybody who acts with a conscience in exposing these battle crimes can be hounded and punished by the perpetrator of these battle crimes. It’s a full inversion of every little thing that democratic international locations say they stand for.

What’s the timeline for the subsequent hearings and judiciary steps?

It’s actually the endgame now. It’s a matter of months, not years. Julian’s destiny can be determined within the subsequent few months. It’s actually as if Julian is to win this case, it will likely be within the European Courtroom of Human Rights. It’s a political case, and that implies that the general public’s understanding and the understanding by the educated political courses of what this case means is vital, and it’s partly why I can be touring to the European continent  extra typically, to remind those that Julian has spent over three years in a jail for doing his job as a writer, and that an extradition can be tantamount to a demise sentence. But it surely’s not simply Julian’s destiny: It’s the destiny of the way forward for democracy in Europe particularly.

Did you discover assist inside the public opinion and the political class in Europe?

Sure, within the nationwide Parliaments in France, Germany, the UK and so forth, there are a number of political teams who present energetic assist, and there the assist is throughout the political events. The place there may be lack of assist, is right down to ignorance, as a result of the topic consultants on this subject, like Amnesty Worldwide and the liberty of the press organisations are all very clear that this case is an abomination, and the politicians would have a tough time justifying being in opposition to the fundamental ideas that this case violates.

Do you’re feeling that the assist of the general public opinion is as sturdy because it was earlier than Julian Assange was confined inside the Ecuadorian embassy, then detained in Belmarsh jail?

The UK has hidden Julian from the general public view, he hasn’t been to courtroom, he has not been allowed to attend in particular person in courtroom to courtroom since January 2021 – he was allowed to attend via video hyperlink. The truth is that no-one, together with the press, was in a position to {photograph} him or interview him. That is typical of a political case the place there’s a floor look of course of, however the abuses come within the element, such because the refusal to permit him to come back to courtroom, and even when he was in courtroom, he was not allowed to sit down along with his legal professionals. We even had a combat with UK authorities about permitting a marriage photographer, for this similar cause. They’re afraid to indicate that Julian is a human being. However the persecution of Julian is now plain for everybody to see.

As soon as the fees have been lastly unveiled everybody was in shock. The US administration is imprisoning him for his journalistic actions, and this implies the precedent can be set for others participating in such actions. He has been in jail for over three years, with out conviction, solely on the premise of this outrageous extradition request. The UN Particular Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer investigated Julian’s case and wrote a e book about it. He concluded he had been subjected to psychological torture, and the states concerned have engaged in a concerted effort to disclaim him his most elementary rights. Whistleblowers have revealed that they have been working for the CIA within the embassy, bugging legally privileged conferences.

It’s a horrible case for press freedom and for what it means in Europe. It’s a full inversion of every little thing that democratic international locations say they stand for

Latest stories revealed that Mike Pompeo’s CIA was actively plotting to assassinate Julian through the Trump presidency. Throughout this time the CIA additionally rolled out a wide-ranging disinformation marketing campaign to scale back political assist for Julian and WikiLeaks in preparation for Julian’s arrest, so there may be lots of confusion concerning the case. Investigations like that of UN Particular Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, or Stefania Maurizi, or the RAI investigation that was produced final 12 months, are making a significant affect. The general public’s understanding of what has occurred right here is more and more knowledgeable. This consciousness must continue to grow as a result of whether it is sturdy sufficient it should cease this extradition and free Julian.

Are you optimistic as regards to the subsequent phases? If sure why and if no, why? What do you count on or would ask to the folks in Europe at this stage?

I’ve to be hopeful that this travesty can be dropped at an finish. This case checks the equity, robustness and the independence of each establishment it has entered into contact with. The UK has failed time and time once more. The Excessive Courtroom overturned an earlier resolution to dam the extradition after the US authorities made a political intervention within the type of a letter to the UK authorities, which the British courtroom shockingly accepted as a cause to permit the extradition in any case. This extradition is totalitarian to the core. It’s anathema to European values. The one honest and apparent consequence is for this extradition to be blocked.