Earlier this month Julian Assange celebrated his 49th Birthday in Belmarsh High-Security Prison in London where he has been held for over a year. He spends most of his time – 23 hours a day - in solitary confinement. This follows his seven years holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Julian Assange's Birthday 3 July
Photo credit: Ingrid Leusch
Julian Assange is an Australian citizen who has been abandoned by his government who appears to have washed its hands of him. He is presently very sick in Belmarsh Prison, where Coronavirus is rife and yet he has been refused bail.
He has committed no crime, but rather told the truth of the world’s dirty secrets, in particular America’s war crimes. Assange should be released immediately before it is too late. It would be a tragedy if he dies in prison or is extradited to the USA.
He faces an extradition trial on 7 September at the Old Bailey in London, and if that is successful it is a death sentence for him and also for freedom of speech.
Leith Clayton-Brandt and Sandra Lee at Vigil for Julian Assange in Nowra, February 2020
Photo credit: Jade Lee
On July 29 our Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Marise Payne, will be visiting the USA to have talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This is the perfect opportunity for Australia to advocate for Assange’s case, although so far this intention has not been expressed.
Please help Julian Assange by emailing Senator Payne insisting she, as foreign minister, push the US government to drop its indictment against Julian Assange and cease their extradition bid. Urge Senator Payne to see Assange’s rights as human rights and his freedom as freedom of speech, freedom of press, for us all.
The points being argued in support of Assange’s case are
- His human rights are everyone's rights, his freedom is our freedom
- Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy
- Countries need to maintain their sovereignty and social standards, abide by their laws and listen to and support their citizens.
- He didn't expose government secret; as an award-winning journalist he exposed serious government crimes against humanity.
- He has been a pawn in a political power game that has huge ramifications for the future of global democracies.
Senator Marise Payne can be contacted via email: senator.payne@aph.gov.au or better still, if you can, call her office as well (02) 6277 7500
Letter sent. Was difficult to write without expletives about this joke of a minister and govt.
Dear Senator Payne
I respectfully request that you protect the freedom of all Australians, you protect key tenets of democracy, and you protect human rights by pushing the US to drop its bid to extradite Julian Assange.
Exposing wrong-doing and telling the truth are not crimes. That is why we have a justice system. Mr Assange has been held prisoner and faces extradition and likely death at the hands of the US for exposing wrong-doing and revealing the truth.
Instead of being incarcerated for these actions, Mr Assange needs to be applauded.
I urge you to seek his release and to prevent any attempts by the US to extradite him.
Phil Smith.
thank you Phil for writing to Senator Payne.
Regards, Ingrid
This is a power game ,And it IS SHAMEFULNESS on Australia not to ring him back to Australia
Bring Julian Assange back to Australia if you support free speech and in particular a free press.
I called Senator Payne's office and they 'noted' my call but did not ask who I was. When I requestd to be put through to a staff member who was more involved in the Assange case who knew the case, the background and what was hope for etc but no info at all they just stone-walled! I hope to write an email to the senator shortly.
thanks for your efforts Mardijah