Australian PM: Enough is enough; time Assange is brought home

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Feb 2024 13:17

The Australian prime minister says he addressed the issue at the "highest levels" with Washington and the UK.

A giant hoarding in Melbourne calling for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on September 5, 2023. (AFP)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday it was time that renowned investigative journalist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange "was brought home," as the Australian citizen faces his last chance in the UK to prevent his extradition to the United States.

Talking to ABC Radio, Albanese pointed out that he addressed the issue at the "highest levels" with Washington and the UK.

"I have put the view very clearly, privately, as I have publicly, that enough is enough. It's time Julian Assange was brought home. I've engaged with his legal team on a regular basis as well, on a strategy to try to get through this and come out the other side in Mr. Assange's interest," the prime minister said during the interview.

Assange is facing extradition for leaking classified US military documents in 2010-2011 which proved that the US committed war crimes in Iraq.

The High Court of Justice in London began a two-day hearing on his case Tuesday, and authorities will assess whether he will have more opportunity to contest extradition to the US in British courts.

Life and death

Stella Assange, Assange's wife and lawyer, demanded his release from jail at a major rally in London, vowing that all of his prosecutors would be brought to justice in some way.

The Australian premier stated that his government is actively involved in diplomatic efforts with both countries and is focused on achieving a resolution rather than generating headlines.

"It's a legal process in another country. So, that is why, both with the US and the UK, we have to engage diplomatically. We certainly have done so," he said.

The Australian parliament passed a resolution last week calling for Assange to be allowed to return to his home country.

In a significant ruling in 2021, the UK High Court determined that Assange should be extradited, rejecting arguments about his fragile mental state and the potential risks he could encounter in a US prison.

Should Assange's appeal be unsuccessful, he retains the option to file an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights to forestall his extradition to the US. Nonetheless, his legal team is concerned that the British government might attempt to transport him by air before such an appeal can be pursued.