Assange state of affairs

Julian Assange is cast by his supporters as a political refugee: seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, against a backdrop of conspiring imperial powers. The editor-in-chief of the whistle-blowing site Wikileaks, which gained international notoriety in November 2010 when it released huge swathes of highly classified diplomatic cables from US embassies around the world, champions the causes of freedom of speech and information.

In an age where information is god, the internet disciples of 2010 had found their John the Baptist: his name was Julian Assange. In a world where free speech was being increasingly curtailed by governments, a brave, new, open world where governments couldn’t hide information from citizens was being exposed by this website.

However in the same month, on 20 November 2010, an International Arrest Warrant was issued by Swedish police via Interpol for the arrest of Assange. Not because his website published classified information, but because he faces ‘questioning’ over rape allegations in Sweden. The UK is bound by European law to arrest Assange for his extradition to Sweden.

His supporters claim that he shouldn’t be extradited purely for ‘questioning’; however as barrister Anya Palmer, a leading barrister, explained to Channel Four’s FactCheck, “the next step in the Swedish proceedings is to conduct a second interview with him before making a decision whether to formally charge him. The prosecutor is presently disposed to charge him, unless any new evidence emerges that might change her mind.”

The Home Office have stated in regards to the case, “A European Arrest Warrant cannot be issued for the purposes of questioning. Extradition is ordered to either face prosecution/trial or to serve a sentence already imposed.” Assange’s extradition is by the book and wholly legal.

[pullquote style=”left” quote=”dark”]A person can be both the saviour of free speech and a rapist at the same time: the two positions are not mutually exclusive.[/pullquote]

It is not for any persons accused of rape or sexual assault to dictate the terms on which they are investigated, whatever their profile is. He is not in the position to demand to be questioned in London by Swedish police; he is in the same position as any other person accused of rape. He is not being victimised; he is not a political refugee. If anything he is on the run, taking refuge in the embassy of a Latin-American state which, ironically, has a very poor record when it comes to freedom of speech, press and information

A person can be both the saviour of free speech and a rapist at the same time: the two positions are not mutually exclusive. Just because Assange is a political dissident does not mean he is not capable of the crimes he is accused of. Comments by George Galloway, Respect MP for Bradford West, that Assange’s behaviour was not rape, just “bad sexual etiquette” does not help the situation. Rape is rape, whether in Sweden or the UK; sex without consent is always rape, in whatever situation it happens, and whoever it involves.

Any potential extradition to the United States is a separate issue. The United States would have issued an arrest warrant already if they wanted to try him; in any case they would have a hard case making one, as it is not a crime for Wikileaks to have been passed classified information. The UK, and Swedish authorities, would have to recognise the crime he is being accused of in the USA and ‘treason’ may not even be applicable.

If Assange’s supporters seek a martyr, then look no further than the whistle-blower who handed Wikileaks the cables. Bradley Manning, has been held since 22nd August 2012 for 812 days without trial, under conditions that many independent observers believe to be inhumane.

The Wikileaks inspired quest for political transparency is ultimately one of the most noble of our age. At a time when we have never before had such an ability to consume so much information, our freedom of access to it is being curtailed rapidly. This is about a cause, not an individual. Each day Julian Assange plays the victim, clinging to the tiny balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy, he is damaging the reputation of Wikileaks and the entire whistle-blowing movement.

Until Assange is tried before a court of law in Sweden justice will not be served. No justice for the two women who face a lengthy and traumatic rape trial, nor justice for Assange, whereby he can clear his name if found not guilty. Until then no one can know for sure – not me, not you, not anyone.