The fight for Julian Assange’s freedom, and with it the future of investigative journalism, has reached a critical point. After a panel of three judges at the Supreme Court refused on 14 March to hear his case, Assange’s fate now lies in the hands of Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Assange faces extradition to the US on espionage charges, relating to the 2010 publication of material exposing the war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US and its allies. His lawyers had appealed to the Supreme Court on a specific point of law. This related to the question as to at what point during extradition proceedings a court can hear assurances from the requesting country on the conditions of an extradition. The US had made a set of dubious assurances about the conditions of Assange’s incarceration, which they would have no legal obligation to uphold once he was extradited. Furthermore, these assurances were only made after Westminster Magistrates Court ruled to block the extradition on medical grounds, a decision that was subsequently overturned by the British Court of Appeal. Despite this, the Supreme Court denied Assange permission to appeal, ruling that ‘the application does not raise an arguable point of law’ and sent the case back to Westminster Magistrates Court.
In a short hearing on 20 April, the Magistrates Court formally approved the extradition. The case has now been sent to the Home Secretary, who will have the final say in whether Assange should be sent to the US to face charges of espionage. As we go to press, Priti Patel has not given an official decision, but it is expected that she will do so within days. Patel’s record as Home Secretary – typified by her presiding over the introduction of anti-protest measures and the tightening of racist immigration controls – indicates that she is unlikely in the extreme to show Assange any mercy and will sign off on his extradition to face trial and imprisonment in the US. Further legal challenges will then ensue.
The movement to free Assange must be supported and built. The attack on Julian Assange is not just an attack on one man but on the very possibility of independent journalism within imperialist countries.
Seamus O’ Tuairisc
Write to Julian Assange A9397AY, HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead London SE28 0EB
The Committee to Defend Julian Assange demonstrates weekly outside Belmarsh and is organising a nationwide publicity campaign to let people everywhere know about this injustice. Email [email protected] or follow @JA_Defence on twitter for more information. The Don’t Extradite Assange campaign is also asking supporters to email Priti Patel and Boris Johnson to demand Assange is not extradited:
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! No 288, June/July 2022
