{"id":167004,"date":"2020-08-17T12:00:06","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T11:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=167004"},"modified":"2020-08-17T10:31:35","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T09:31:35","slug":"what-happens-if-julian-assange-dies-in-a-british-prison-journalists-and-monitors-voice-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2020\/08\/what-happens-if-julian-assange-dies-in-a-british-prison-journalists-and-monitors-voice-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens if Julian Assange Dies in a British Prison? Journalists and Monitors Voice Concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

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15 Aug 2020 – <\/em>Julian Assange appeared at Westminster Magistrates\u2019 Court via video-link on Friday (14 Aug).<\/p>\n

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Seen to those in attendance through two flat-screen monitors placed at either side of the west London courtroom, the WikiLeaks founder and former editor patiently sat through the proceedings in which he took no active role \u2013 he coughed and cleared his throat throughout.<\/p>\n

Normally held in a solitary cell at H.M.P. Belmarsh for twenty-three-and-a-half hours a day with a chronic lung condition, this is the second case-management hearing Assange has attended in recent weeks. He spoke once to confirm his name and date of birth, but struggled to speak and looked weakened according to a handful of observers.<\/p>\n

As a \u201cremand prisoner\u201d with no convictions, Assange is expected to be produced in court every twenty-eight days, either physically or by video-link, but has frequently been too unwell to appear or has avoided the proceedings following the guidance of health professionals, particularly in light of Covid-19 concerns.<\/p>\n

New restrictions imposed on British courts following the pandemic have also hampered the proceedings in a number of ways. Aside from difficulties in travel for both the prosecution and defence lawyers, let alone Assange himself, \u201csocial-distancing\u201d requirements mean that only a limited few are granted access. Most are consigned to teleconferencing facilities.<\/p>\n

Journalists and international monitors \u2013 including Rebecca Vincent, international campaigns director at Reporters Sans Fronti\u00e8res, and Diani Barreto, an advisor to a number of European Members of Parliament \u2013 have repeatedly spoken out against poor facilities. In most instances, court proceedings have been relayed from one phone receiver to the next.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve now had confirmation that proceedings have indeed started, but once again the conference call line has not been added to the court, meaning press and NGO observers have no remote access. This is the third hearing in which this has happened in the past five months.<\/p>\n

— Rebecca Vincent (@rebecca_vincent) August 14, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n