Amnesty International strongly opposed any possibility of Julian Assange being extradited or sent in any other manner to the USA. There, he faced a real risk of serious human rights violations including possible detention conditions that would amount to torture and other ill-treatment (such as prolonged solitary confinement). Negative public campaigns by U.S. officials at the highest levels targeted him in the past undermined his right to be presumed innocent and put him at risk of an unfair trial.
Julian Assange’s publication of disclosed documents as part of his work with Wikileaks should not be punishable, as this activity mirrors conduct that investigative journalists undertake regularly in their professional capacity. News and publishing outlets often and rightfully publish classified information to inform on matters of utmost public importance. Publishing information that is in the public interest is a cornerstone of media freedom. It’s also protected under international human rights law and should not be criminalized. Prosecuting Julian Assange on these charges could have a chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression, leading journalists to self-censor from fear of prosecution. Amnesty International called on U.S. Authorities to drop the espionage and all other charges against Julian Assange.
If extradited, Assange could have faced up to 175 years in jail under the Espionage Act and as much as five years for computer fraud.
On June 26, 2024, Julian Assange walked free from a court in the US Pacific island territory of Saipan, after pleading guilty to violating US espionage law stemming from WikiLeaks’ release in 2010 of classified US military documents including from the wars it waged in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assange pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, leading to a sentence of 62 months, all of which Julian Assange had already served. He was immediately flown to Australia where he was reunited with his family.
The U.S. government sent a clear message across the US and abroad: publishers and journalists could end up behind bars on espionage charges for years if they use classified material to expose human rights violations. The fight for global media freedom continues. Work must be done to uphold freedom of expression and to unwind the impact of the ‘chilling effect’ that Assange’s treatment has had on media freedom worldwide.
Press releases:
- UK/USA: Global Media Freedom at Risk as Julian Assange Back in UK Court Facing Possible Extradition to USA
- UK/US: Home Secretary’s certification of Assange extradition puts him at risk
- UK: Certifying Assange’s extradition puts him at great risk and “would pose grave threat to press freedom”
- US/UK: “Travesty of justice” as extradition appeal fails to recognise that it would be unsafe for Julian Assange to be sent to the US
- US/UK: “Drop the charges, stop the extradition and free Julian Assange,” says Amnesty head
- US/UK: US “Assurances” leave Julian Assange at risk of ill-treatment if extradited from UK
- Amnesty International joins civil liberties groups to ask Biden to drop case against Julian Assange
- UK: Decision to refuse Assange bail renders his continued detention “arbitrary”
- UK: Lack of Access to Julian Assange Extradition Hearing Undermines Open Justice
- UK: Assange bail application highlights COVID-19 risk to many vulnerable detainees and prisoners
- US/UK: Drop charges and halt extradition of Julian Assange
- Julian Assange: Rape allegations must be treated with utmost seriousness
- Julian Assange must not be extradited to the US
- Amnesty International Calls on Sweden to Assure Julian Assange Won’t be Extradited to the United States
- Q&A: Wikileaks and Freedom of Expression