The co-founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is to remain in prison even after his term ends due to his “history of absconding,” as reported by a judge. He is “crumbling” psychologically and physically, as Chris Hedges reports.
Hedges attended Julian Assange’s wedding to his partner Stella Moris at London’s Belmarsh prison. Assange has been behind bars for nearly three years awaiting possible extradition to the United States on espionage charges for publishing documents revealing war crimes committed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hedges says Assange exposed the “most important information” of this generation, along with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
He was supposed to be released on September 22, 2019, after serving his sentence for breaching bail conditions. The Magistrate’s Court in Westminster believed that he would abscond again on “substantial grounds.”
He was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he took refuge in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations – which he has denied.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Friday told Assange, who appeared by video link:
“You have been produced today because your sentence of imprisonment is about to come to an end. When that happens your remand status changes from a serving prisoner to a person facing extradition.”
She said that his lawyer had declined to make an application for bail on his behalf, adding “perhaps not surprisingly in light of your history of absconding in these proceedings”.
“In my view, I have substantial ground for believing if I release you, you will abscond again.”
Aitor Martinez Tells Julian Assange’s Story, Shared That His Life Was Being Destroyed In Prison
Julian Assange’s lawyer, Aitor Martinez, came to the forefront and expressed his feelings and shared how Assange was doing in the prison.
