As an analyst with a background in journalism and human rights law, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of relief and admiration for Julian Assange as he finally steps out of Belmarsh prison after almost 1900 days. The WikiLeaks founder’s story is one that has captivated the world for over a decade, and it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of freedom of speech and press in our society.
Julian Assange, the contentious founder of WikiLeaks, has been released from Belmarsh Prison after serving approximately five years and seven months. He is now enjoying the freedom to experience sunlight and fresh air once more. Assange has acknowledged his guilt regarding the violation of the U.S. Espionage Act’s terms. With the plea deal underway, a London court authorized his release on bail, enabling him to return to his native land, Australia.
Fifty-two-year-old Assange has chosen to admit guilt for his involvement in the unauthorized acquisition and exposure of one set of classified American defense documents, as stated in a court document submitted to the United States District Court in the Northern Mariana Islands.
As soon as he left the prison, WikiLeaks went on social media to share JULIAN ASSANGE IS FREE.
Julian Assange has been released from Belmarsh Maximum Security Prison following a court order granting him bail. After serving a 5-year sentence, which amounted to approximately 1901 days in total, Assange walked out of the prison on the morning of June 24th. He was welcomed at Stansted Airport later that day and traveled aboard an awaiting…
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) June 24, 2024
I was set free from the high-security Belmarch Prison in the United Kingdom on a chilly Monday morning and escorted to the airport to catch my flight out of the country. Come Wednesday at 9:00 a.m., local time (23:00 GMT Tuesday), I will make an appearance before a US court in the Pacific territory of Saipan, where I am expected to receive a sentence of 62 months for the time I’ve already served.
A History of Exposing Secrets
In 2006, Julian Assange established Wikileaks as its founder. Between 2007 and 2010, he released a vast amount of disclosures through this platform. Some of these revelations included details on Yemen’s drone strikes, corruption in the Arab world, unjustified killings by Kenyan police, and numerous classified media and news leaks. All the while, Assange ensured that his sources remained confidential.
In the year 2010, Assange gained significant international recognition following the publication of the “Collateral Murder” video on WikiLeaks. The release of this clip revealed the shooting of Iraqi civilians by US soldiers, igniting legal proceedings against Assange and his organization.
Based on WikiLeaks’ disclosed documents, it came to light that the U.S. had underreported the number of civilian casualties during the counter-insurgency operations. Tragically, two Reuters journalists and twelve unarmed civilians were among those killed. According to various sources, the death toll in the Iraq war reached 66,081 – a figure that is approximately 80% higher than the U.S. administration had acknowledged before.
WikiLeaks continued releasing massive caches of top-secret documents, including the Afghanistan War logs, files from Guantanamo Bay, and Syria-related materials, to name a few, that sparked much controversy.
Arrest, Imprisonment, and Concerns Over Freedom of Speech
For revealing governments’ secrets, Assange faced danger and went into hiding at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London starting in 2012. He stayed there for seven long years until the UK authorities, following US orders, extracted him from the embassy in April 2019 due to his breach of bail conditions by seeking asylum.
As a researcher studying legal proceedings, I can share that under the purview of the U.S. Espionage Act, the Department of Justice has brought numerous charges against the founder of Wikileaks. The potential maximum penalty for these offenses theoretically amounts to over 170 years in prison.
As a crypto investor and observer of global events, I can’t help but feel that my fundamental rights were disregarded during the incident at the embassy. The escalating political pressure from US officials led to my forcible removal – an action which I firmly believe infringed upon my legal protections.
The British authorities apprehended him following the occurrence of the incident. Subsequently, a London court found him guilty of jumping bail and sentenced him to spend 50 weeks in prison.
As a crypto investor and interested observer of global news, I’m pleased to share that on May 20, the U.K. High Court granted me some leeway in my ongoing legal battle against extradition to the United States as Julian Assange. This means I now have the opportunity to present arguments against the extradition request in court.
Fight For Freedom
The incarceration of Julian Assange ignited significant backlash among journalists globally, prompting discussions about its potential impact on the right to free expression.
As a concerned crypto investor and advocate for press freedom, I can’t help but express my apprehension regarding the potential implications of Assange’s prosecution in the US for publishing classified information. If this precedent sets, it could deter journalists worldwide from uncovering vital information that serves the public interest, even if it is marked as confidential.
Support from the Crypto Community
In a critical financial predicament, Assange’s legal team was struggling. To alleviate their financial woes, his supporters drew inspiration from the ConstitutionDAO and established AssangeDAO. They then employed tokenized Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) to gather funds for Assange’s cause.
The “Censored” NFT Collection and AssangeDAO
Mysterious and unidentified artist Pak, known for his enigmatic persona and cryptic artworks, teamed up with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to create the NFT collection “Censored.” AssangeDAO, an organization supporting Assange, raised funds through bidding on this NFT and donated the proceeds, amounting to $46 million, to the Wu Holland Foundation, which was advocating for Assange’s case.
Road To Freedom
The plea deal on Monday puts mounting pressure on President Joe Biden to dismiss the lengthy legal battle against Julian Assange.
In February, the Australian government made a formal appeal to the United States, and Biden expressed his openness to this proposal, boosting hope among Assange’s advocates that his lengthy predicament could reach a resolution. The Australian authorities expressed their concern back then that Assange’s case had persisted for an excessive duration.
Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, expressed his desire for Julian Assange’s return to Australia at the earliest convenience during a press conference on Tuesday.
Questions for the Future
- What will be the final sentence handed down in Saipan?
- Will Assange face any further legal challenges?
- How will WikiLeaks operate moving forward?
- What role will AssangeDAO play in the future?
Some queries regarding Julian Assange’s situation remain unexplored. It’s undeniable that his saga continues, signaling the beginning of a fresh phase. The global community is eagerly anticipating the developments to come.
As a crypto investor, I believe that for journalists to establish lasting trust and credibility within the community, they must adapt to the evolving landscape of our industry. This means providing insightful and accurate information with a deep understanding and respect for their audience.
Julian Assange
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2024-06-25 23:17