Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Direct damage from Iranian bombing of "Israel" in one week is estimated at approximately 5 billion shekels (about $1.35 billion)
Unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis or justification: Putin
Shahid Beheshti University Public Relations: The Israeli aggression targeted a building belonging to Shahid Beheshti University with the aim of sabotaging Iran's cultural and scientific infrastructure
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Fordow nuclear facility was bombed once again, 24 hours after the US aggression.
Fars News Agency, citing informed sources: The Iranian Armed Forces used the Kheibar-Shekan, Emad, Ghadr, and Fattah missiles in their attacks on the Israeli entity today
Sirens sound from the occupied Golan Heights to Akka and Nahariya
Sirens sound again in the occupied Golan Heights and al-Jalil
Israeli media: Power outages reported in several settlements following a missile attack targeting an infrastructure facility
Israeli media: Strategic location in the south likely hit
Israeli media outlet: Reports of missiles falling in at least 7 areas, including Askalan, Safad, and Isdud

48 Australian politicians demand US to abandon Assange extradition

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Apr 2023 13:04
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Marking the fourth anniversary of Julian Assange's detention in Belmarsh prison, 48 MPs and senators warn the US that the pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder "set a dangerous precedent" in an open letter.

  • x
  • Julian Assange is in custody at London’s Belmarsh prison as he battles a US attempt to extradite him to face charges in connection with the publication of leaked documents. (AP)
    Julian Assange is in custody at London’s Belmarsh prison as he battles a US attempt to extradite him to face charges in connection with the publication of leaked documents. (AP)

Across the political spectrum, Australian federal MPs have asked US attorney general Merrick Garland to drop efforts to extradite Julian Assange from the UK.

The 48 senators and representatives, 13 of whom are from the ruling Labor party, warned that the hunt for the WikiLeaks founder "set a dangerous precedent" for press freedom and would harm the US reputation.

Assange, an Australian citizen, is still detained in Belmarsh prison in London as he resists a US request to extradite him to stand trial on charges related to the release of tens of thousands of leaked diplomatic papers about the atrocities of US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Read next: Job of US Marine corps was killing people: Iraq War veterans speak up

The Labor, Coalition, Greens, and crossbench MPs pleaded with Garland to "drop the extradition proceedings and allow Mr. Assange to return home" in an open letter that was published on Tuesday.

“If the extradition request is approved, Australians will witness the deportation of one of our citizens from one Aukus partner to another – our closest strategic ally – with Mr Assange facing the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison,” the letter said.

“This would set a dangerous precedent for all global citizens, journalists, publishers, media organizations and the freedom of the press. It would also be needlessly damaging for the US as a world leader on freedom of expression and the rule of law,” it added.

The letter acknowledged that the allegations - which include 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act - pertained to Assange's acts "as a journalist and publisher" in publishing information "with evidence of war crimes, corruption, and human rights abuses."

The MPs and senators compared Assange's continuous persecution to that of Chelsea Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst who was freed in 2017 after Barack Obama commuted her 35-year military prison sentence for disclosing the information.

Related News

US 'opened a Pandora's Box': Russia's UN envoy on aggression on Iran

US aggression attacks Iran’s national unity, identity: Ex-president

The letter went on to say that  Assange – who initially took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London – “has been effectively incarcerated for well over a decade in one form or another, yet the person who leaked classified information had their sentence commuted and has been able to participate in American society since 2017."

The letter was sent by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who also serves as co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Julian Assange Group. It falls on the same day as Assange's fourth anniversary of being imprisoned in Belmarsh.

According to Wilkie, the 48 federal lawmakers from Australia were representing millions of constituents by working "in concert with similar letters from parliamentarians from around the world."

“This is no small matter and must not be dismissed,” Wilkie said. “Nor should it be ignored that the outpouring of political concern spans the political spectrum and is based on a diverse range of reasons.”

On his account, Assange’s father, John Shipton, made a heartwrenching remark, revealing that said his son had been living under “a pall of shame and disgrace."

Shipton said the ruling by the new Australian high commissioner to the UK, Stephen Smith, to visit Belmarsh prison last week marked “the beginning of the end of this bleak, severe frost on truth and destruction of Julian Assange."

Julian Assange's lawyer recently cited suicide as a possible outcome if the Australian is extradited to the #US on his espionage charges.
Here's a timeline of some key dates from Assange’s life.#JulianAssange #FreeAssange pic.twitter.com/FTSGibxwQO

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 30, 2021

Greg Barns SC, a legal advisor to the Assange campaign, warned the US attempt to prosecute Assange was “dangerous” because it meant “any journalist or publisher anywhere in the world could face extradition to the US for exposing material Washington doesn’t want you to know about."

The 13 Labor MPs to ink Tuesday’s letter were Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Mike Freelander, Julian Hill, Peter Khalil, Tania Lawrence, Zaneta Mascarenhas, Brian Mitchell, Alicia Payne, Graham Perrett, Susan Templeman, Maria Vamvakinou, Josh Wilson and Tony Zappia.

It is worth noting that the former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and the member of parliament for Bass, Bridget Archer, were the most prominent Coalition signatories.

Read next: Stand up for Julian Assange: Zakharova to Borrell

  • US
  • Australian politicians
  • Australia
  • Julian Assange extradition
  • Julian Assange

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Politics

Spain seeks immediate suspension of EU association pact with 'Israel'

Israeli settlers evacuate a building damaged in an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Tel Aviv streets ghostly; settlers flee under Iranian missile fire

Trump’s secret Iran strike uncovered in explosive CNN report
Politics

Behind the scenes: Trump's decision to strike Iran mapped - CNN

The oil tanker Palanca Rio arrives in Portland, Maine, the United States, Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (AP)
Economy

Oil prices spike as US-Israeli aggression on Iran sparks concerns

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS