{"id":176624,"date":"2021-01-11T12:00:23","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T12:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=176624"},"modified":"2021-01-08T05:31:11","modified_gmt":"2021-01-08T05:31:11","slug":"every-journalist-should-be-concerned-about-what-was-said-today-in-assanges-kangaroo-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2021\/01\/every-journalist-should-be-concerned-about-what-was-said-today-in-assanges-kangaroo-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Journalist Should Be Concerned about What Was Said Today in Assange\u2019s Kangaroo Court"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Political Arguments Provided by the United States Were Upheld by the British Judicial System<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

5 Jan 2021 – <\/em>Leading campaigners for Julian Assange\u2019s freedom, including former Ecuadorian diplomat Fidel Narv\u00e1ez, Assange\u2019s partner Stella Moris and WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, addressed supporters and the assembled media outside the Old Bailey in central London yesterday.<\/p>\n

Judge Vanessa Baraitser\u2019s decision to block the extradition of Julian Assange on health grounds was greeted with celebration outside the court and by millions more around the world, including in Assange\u2019s home country of Australia. His closest associates hailed the court\u2019s decision as a victory but warned that the fight to secure Assange\u2019s freedom was far from over.<\/p>\n

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Fidel Narvaez<\/p><\/div>\n

Fidel Narv\u00e1ez served as Consul at Ecuador\u2019s embassy in London until 2018, where he became a friend to Assange. He thanked those gathered outside the court for \u201csupporting freedom of expression, supporting Julian Assange, the man, the journalist, the activist, the freedom fighter\u201d:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a victory of all the people who never gave up. The British judicial system wanted to save face today. For those who were inside listening to the judge, it was like listening to the prosecutors\u2019 opening statement. If it was not for the very, very fragile health conditions of Julian Assange, he would already be extradited.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery journalist should be concerned about what was said today in court. Because the political arguments provided by the United States were upheld by the British judicial system\u2026 It is only the doctors\u2019 assessment of the fragile condition of the health of Julian Assange that has saved him from extradition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe judge had to recognise the appalling, the oppressive conditions of the US prison system under Special Administrative Measures for espionage cases and the risk that Julian might commit suicide if he is extradited. That is the only thing that stopped her. So be aware, that freedom of expression is still under attack.\u201d<\/p>\n

Narv\u00e1ez stressed that this was \u201ca case not only about freedom of expression. It was also about human rights. It was a case about the right of political asylum\u2026 I feel ashamed about the decision of the Ecuadorian government in 2019 to hand Julian over the Americans and to the British.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s hope that Julian will be walking free, as he should. Too much damage has already been done. Who is going to compensate him for ten years of persecution, of defamation, of calling him a hacker, of calling him a rapist, of treating him as a criminal?<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the world upside down. The world criminals [get] impunity, the ones who reveal their crimes are still persecuted. But let\u2019s celebrate this victory today. This victory belongs to all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Rebecca Vincent<\/p><\/div>\n