Julian Assange is an Australian journalist, computer programmer, and founder of WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization that gained international prominence for its role in publishing sensitive classified and confidential information from governments and organizations around the world.
Assange and WikiLeaks became well-known for their release of a vast trove of classified U.S. government documents in 2010, provided by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. These documents included diplomatic cables and military reports, and their publication led to significant controversy and diplomatic fallout. Words and Photos by Mark Anning.
Assange faced legal troubles as a result of his actions. In 2012, he sought asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador in London to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced sexual assault allegations. He remained in the embassy for almost seven years, during which time he was unable to leave the premises without fear of arrest.
In April 2019, Assange’s asylum was revoked by the Ecuadorian government, and he was arrested by British authorities for breaching bail conditions. Subsequently, the United States sought his extradition on charges related to the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
After a lengthy legal battle, in January 2021, a UK court ruled against his extradition, citing concerns about his mental health and the conditions he might face in a U.S. prison.
Assange’s legal situation has been a subject of significant debate and controversy, with some viewing him as a champion of transparency and free speech, while others see his actions as endangering national security and diplomatic relations.
Early Life as a Hacker: Julian Assange was born on July 3, 1971, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. He had a background in hacking and computer programming during his early years. He was involved with various hacking groups in the 1980s and 1990s, using the pseudonym “Mendax.”
Establishment of WikiLeaks: Assange co-founded WikiLeaks in 2006 as a platform for whistleblowers to publish documents anonymously. The organization’s mission was to promote government transparency and expose corruption and misconduct.
Photo of John Shipton, Julian Assange’s father. © Mark Anning photo 2020. Contact for use of image. He does look like Julian Assange.
Early Activities of WikiLeaks: In its early years, WikiLeaks published various documents and leaks, including a significant release in 2007 of documents related to the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. However, it gained widespread international attention in 2010 with the release of several high-profile leaks.
Exposing Alleged War Crimes: WikiLeaks came to global prominence in 2010 when it published classified U.S. military documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These leaks contained evidence of alleged war crimes, including the Collateral Murder video, which showed a U.S. Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed Reuters journalists.
Role of Chelsea Manning: Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, provided WikiLeaks with a vast amount of classified documents, including the ones related to the war crimes, such as the Collateral Murder video. Manning was subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to prison. Manning and Snowden’s actions raised concerns about government transparency and whistleblowing.
Role of Edward Snowden: Edward Snowden is a separate figure known for his role in exposing the U.S. government’s mass surveillance programs. He is not directly connected to the WikiLeaks releases and did not release his trove via Wikileaks, however Snowden was accompanied on his flight to Moscow by a Wikileaks staffer.
Julian Assange said that WikiLeaks had paid for Snowden’s hotel in Hong Kong and his flight to Moscow. Assange asked the Ecuadorian embassy in London to provide an emergency travel document for Snowden. Snowden said that having the document gave him “the confidence, the courage to get on that plane to begin the journey”.
Current Status of Manning and Snowden: Chelsea Manning was released from prison in 2017 after her sentence was commuted. Edward Snowden is living in Russia under asylum.
Risk to Field Personnel: The release of classified information by WikiLeaks did raise concerns about the potential risk to individuals named in the documents, including informants and sources. Some argued that the disclosures put lives at risk.
Swedish Allegations: Julian Assange faced allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden, which led to his seeking asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador in London to avoid extradition.
Ecuador Embassy and Arrest: Assange sought asylum in the Embassy of Ecuador in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. He remained in the embassy for nearly seven years. In April 2019, he was arrested by British authorities after Ecuador revoked his asylum status.
Belmarsh Prison and Extradition: After his arrest, Assange was held in Belmarsh Prison in London. Extradition proceedings were initiated by the United States, which sought his extradition on charges related to the publication of classified documents. Legal proceedings continued, with various developments and appeals in the case.
Our investigation into the death of Reuters cameramen in Iraq and the Wikileaks Collateral Murder leak:
1 The trial of Julian Assange exposes US Rules of Engagement
2 US Military killed two Reuters photographers in Iraq
3 The fix is in: Military investigation into deaths of Reuters staff in Iraq
4 Generals Brookes & Fox meet the Reuters editors
5 Military ignored FOI requests for video of deaths
6 Rules of Engagement between military & civilians
7 Assange: WikiLeaks release Collateral Murder video
8 Definitions, Resources, Transcripts, Apache details
9 Who, what, when and why of the Assange case
10 Wikileaks Collateral Murder video aftermath. Where are they now?
Photo of John Shipton, Julian Assange’s father. © Mark Anning photo 2020
