It’s Time for Australia to Demand Julian Assange’s Release
As Australian journalist Julian Assange faces the hell of extradition, it is more urgent and necessary than ever for the Australian government to intervene on his behalf.
Julian Assange at a press conference in London in August 2014. (David G. Silvers / Cancillería del Ecuador via Flickr)
To no one’s surprise, UK home secretary Priti Patel has rubber-stamped an order to extradite Julian Assange to the United States, where the WikiLeaks founder faces up to 175 years in prison on a variety of espionage charges.
US marshals won’t be arriving just yet, however, as Assange’s legal team will launch further appeals through the British courts and possibly the European Court of Human Rights. Assange’s family and supporters have also expressed hope that Australia’s newly elected Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese will intervene in the case.
The Australian government has a poor track record when it comes to offering meaningful support to Assange. Its responsibility to do so, as the Australian journalist faces the hell of extradition, is more urgent and necessary than ever.
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