The extradition case against Julian Assange is now entering its final phase, with his final UK court hearing expected in early 2024. He could then be brought to the US to face charges under the Espionage Act.
The potential ramifications for global power-challenging, truth-seeking journalism cannot be overstated. The application of the Espionage Act in the U.S. sets a chilling precedent that reverberates far beyond Assange's individual fate. The silencing of a truth-seeker sends a dangerous message, signalling a decline in the resilience of a free press against the forces of authoritarianism.
As three members of the Belmarsh Tribunal, which sits in Washington DC on Saturday 9 December — John Kiriakou, former CIA intelligence officer, Yanis Varoufakis, Greek economist and politician and Lina Attalah, Co-founder and Chief Editor of Mada Masr — explain in an article published this week that Assange’s fate “could stifle the beacon of transparency he represents” and have impact far beyond US borders.
In their analysis, Wikileaks’ legacy “goes beyond exposing government misconduct; it pierces the veil of secrecy shrouding global affairs.” With Israel’s bombardment of Gaza already killing 63 journalists, according to Belmarsh Tribunal partner the Committee to Protect Journalists, we “need Wikileaks’ fearless journalism and brave Israeli whistleblowers to find out how this toll is so incredibly high.”
Lina Attalah is unable to attend in person the Washington DC sitting of the Belmarsh Tribunal on Saturday at the National Press Club where Assange first screened Collateral Murder to the public. Her publication’s reporting of the ongoing assault on Gaza has raised the ire of the US-allied Egyptian state. If the US can imprison those that reveal torture and persecute journalists who reveal truths, why can’t the US’ authoritarian allies?
The pressure is mounting on the Biden administration to free Julian Assange. From Presidents and Prime Ministers to Nobel Peace Prize winners, the international community is crying out against the injustice of Assange's prosecution — and its implication for press freedom worldwide.
On Saturday 9 December, the world's leading journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders will gather at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as witnesses to the Biden administration’s crackdown on free speech and the First Amendment.
Join them. It's not too late to stand on the right side of history. Register now to attend the Tribunal in person or follow the proceedings online.
In solidarity,
The Progressive International Secretariat
