Julian Assange’s life ‘in hands of Australian government’: Wife
Julian Assange is currently facing prosecution in the United States under the Espionage Act, which marks a new precedent, as the legislation was never utilized against classified information being made public.
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Stella Assange speaks at Press Club Australia about the fight to bring her husband home. (Twitter)
As time is running short, Stella Assange has once again made a heart-wrenching plea for her husband Julian Assange's life, calling on Canberra to do more to persuade the US to drop its pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder.
The life of Julian Assange is “in the hands of the Australian government."
Assange is currently facing prosecution in the United States under the Espionage Act, which marks a new precedent, as the legislation was never utilized against classified information being made public.
Assange has been at the Belmarsh prison in London for more than 1,500 days. He was unlawfully charged in the US with 17 counts of "espionage" and one count of computer misuse, connected to him leaking tens of thousands of military and diplomatic documents that exposed US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Julian Assange's lawyer recently cited suicide as a possible outcome if the Australian is extradited to the #US on his espionage charges.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 30, 2021
Here's a timeline of some key dates from Assange’s life.#JulianAssange #FreeAssange pic.twitter.com/FTSGibxwQO
In a heartfelt address at the National Press Club in Canberra, Stella Assange said, “If Julian is extradited, he will be buried in the deepest, darkest hole of the US prison system, isolated forever.”
“We must do everything we can to ensure that Julian never, ever sets foot in US prison. Extradition in this case is a matter of life and death,” she added.
Today @Stella_Assange spoke passionately and from the heart to a full room at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia. Here is her full Speech 1/2 🧵 pic.twitter.com/aLwTrKEzBF
— Gabriel Shipton (@GabrielShipton) May 22, 2023
Stella Assange had also traveled to Australia to campaign for her husband's release in the presence of US President Joe Biden, who was slated to attend Quad discussions in Sydney before departing.
But Biden's absence did not discourage her from visiting her husband's home country since she feels Australia may help secure his release.
“Australia is the United States’ most important ally,” she said. “Julian’s life is in the hands of the Australian government.”
After meeting Biden at the G7 summit in Japan over the weekend, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to continue pleading for Julian Assange's case.
Support for Assange is mounting in Australia, with both Albanese and the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, agreeing that he has been imprisoned for far too long.
“Nothing is served on the ongoing incarceration of Julian Assange,” Albanese told parliament on Monday.
“The case against Julian cannot be understood as anything other than an absurdity,” Stella said. “A stupefying decision of egregious overreach."
“America’s case against Julian has created a new race to the bottom – a new normal, which makes it easier to get away with imprisoning journalists.”
Powerful, stirring speech from Stella Assange at National Press Club today.
— Amelia Otto🎗 (@amelia_otto11) May 22, 2023
Awesome show of support for Julian Assange inside & out.#FreeJulianAssange
✊🎗📣🇦🇺❤ pic.twitter.com/pcVkZHy5vq
Stella Assange feels an increased need to obtain her husband's freedom as their small children grow older and become aware of their father's struggle.
Jennifer Robinson, an Australian human rights lawyer on Julian Assange's legal team, would not rule out negotiating a plea agreement with US authorities in order to secure his release, maybe on time served.
However, she maintains that Assange has done no crime.
Robinson welcomed the connection to the case of terrorist suspect David Hicks, who was returned to Australia as part of a political settlement after his defense reached a plea deal.
