Julian Assange is in arbitrary detention, UN panel finds

[TheIrishman]

Julian Assange is in arbitrary detention, UN panel finds

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/04/julian-assange-wikileaks-arrest-friday-un-investigation

<< A United Nations panel has decided that Julian Assange's three-and-a-half years in the Ecuadorian embassy amount to "arbitrary detention", the Guardian understands, leading his lawyers to call for the Swedish extradition request to be dropped immediately. Assange had appealed to the UN working group on arbitrary detention in 2014, arguing that he was illegally confined to the embassy because he risks arrest if he leaves. The WikiLeaks founder sought asylum from Ecuador in July 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over rape and sexual assault allegations.

The panel's findings were disclosed to the Swedish and British governments on 22 January, and will be published tomorrow. Assange's Swedish lawyer, Per Samuelson, said if the working group found in his favour, "there is only one solution for Marianne Ny [the Swedish prosecutor seeking Assange's extradition], and that is to immediately release him and drop the case". Samuelson added: "If he is regarded as detained, that means he has served his time, so I see no other option for Sweden but to close the case." Assange's lawyers also demanded assurances from the UK that he would not be arrested and subjected to potential extradition to the US, which he fears. >>

[bizerinm]

raping was packed to him because of what he did with his project..And interesting that Sweden accuses him..and here want to purify isis fighters so they can be used as workers??!!

[saddampbuh]

he is a disgusting fornicator but so are most of you, no reason for him to be imprisoned for it

[TheIrishman]

Assange demands UK and Sweden lift arrest threat so he can leave Ecuadorian embassy

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/05/assange-demands-uk-and-sweden-lift-arrest-threat-so-he-can-leave-ecuadorian-embassy

<< Julian Assange will demand on Friday that Sweden and the UK lift any threat of arrest to allow him to walk free from Ecuador's embassy in London, after a United Nations panel found that his three-and-a-half year confinement at the embassy in London amounted to "arbitrary detention". Sweden's foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that the UN panel, which will publish its findings on Friday, had decided in favour of the WikiLeaks founder and found that he was "arbitrarily detained".

Assange has not set foot outside the cramped west London embassy building since June 2012, when he sought asylum from Ecuador in an attempt to avoid extradition to Sweden. The Australian is wanted for questioning over an allegation of rape dating to 2010, which he denies. The findings of the UN working group on arbitrary detention (UNWGAD) are not legally binding, but can be used to apply pressure on states in human rights cases. The British and Swedish governments were informed of the working group's conclusion on 22 January. Both indicated on Thursday that they do not accept its findings. >>

[jak1]

Well he actually is in some kind of prison...almost 4 years in Ecuador consulate without going out..in jail he will have 1 hour walk outside..

[ukeden]

I'd love to see Assange get hung out to dry by an American court. Not because I disagree with him. But because it's always satisfying watching someone with a messiah complex get a dose of reality

[iwasneverhere]

This has been drawn out a lot. The best to Assange and hope it all works out in the end. He did a great service to us all.

[craked5]

Well he actually is in some kind of prison...almost 4 years in Ecuador consulate without going out..in jail he will have 1 hour walk outside..

Fucking true!
Well to be honnest it's not really a bad prison. But it's still some kind of golden cage. Great food, great bed, no threat under the shower (if you know what i mean) but still no freedom. That's some kind of prison. Added to that the fear of going, at anytime, to an actual prison... It doesn't help having confidence in the future.