DOZENS of activists marched in the streets of Stuttgart, Germany, to show support for Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange, demanding an end to his extradition to the U.S.
The activists marched peacefully on streets, holding banners and placards with slogans such as ‘Stop Killing Me’, ‘All For Assange’, ‘Human Dignity Is Inviolable’, and ‘Exposing of War Crimes is Not a Crime! Freedom for J. Assange. Stop extradition to the US’.
One of the activists was seen wearing a prisoner’s robe and handcuffs while marching with a cat on his shoulder.
They held the protest on April 12- the same day Assange had been confined to London’s Belmarsh prison for 5 years.
‘‘[We’re here] to support Julian Assange, because we want him to be released. Very important!’’
‘‘Because we believe he has helped the world, we have to look everywhere. And for us, he is a journalist and freedom of the press is very important. And you can’t do everything in the world, not even the USA.’’
‘’There are 214 signatures. And we’ll post them here again later. And hope that someone from the local council or perhaps the mayor will get in touch.’’
‘‘[We suggest to name] a street, Julian Assange Street. Or the local council could also draft a resolution [for this]. This was also requested by the municipal council of Nuremberg, the city of human rights,’’ activist from Stuttgart, Germany.
Wikileaks editor-in-chief urges Biden to halt Assange extradition
In London, UK, supporters of Julian Assange gathered outside the Australian High Commission with Wikileaks Editor-in-Chief, Kristinn Hrafnson, who criticized the U.S. Government’s attack on freedom by insisting on extraditing Assange.
The US is attempting to extradite Assange from the UK, with the case adjourned until May.
Recently, US President Joe Biden has said he was ‘considering’ Australia’s request to drop charges, which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called ‘encouraging’.
In March, media outlets reported that the US could be considering a plea deal.
Assange is wanted in America on 18 charges, and is facing up to 175 years in prison after publishing thousands of leaked confidential military files and documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—including the leaked footage of a U.S. helicopter attack in 2007 wherein it killed two Reuters staff and several others in Baghdad.
Stella Assange continues to call for freedom, halt of U.S. extradition
The Wikileaks founder has been battling his extradition in the U.S. for more than 10 years now.
In 2010, Assange was arrested by the UK police for alleged sexual offense that he denied.
In 2012, he jumped bail and was granted asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. In 2019, he was again arrested by authorities after Ecuador revoked his asylum and has remained in Belmarsh prison up to this day.
In a recent ruling, UK judges have asked the U.S. government for ‘assurances’ that extradition and the case would not contravene freedom of expression, wouldn’t involve any prejudice during a trial regarding Assange’s nationality, and would not mean the death penalty in the case of conviction.
Additionally, it is emphasized that Assange, an Australian citizen, should receive the same first amendment protections as an American citizen.
