Julian Assange is on his way home to Australia after reaching a plea deal with the US Justice Department. The WikiLeaks founder will plead guilty to a felony charge, securing his release from prison in the United Kingdom.
Julian Assange has been released from Belmarsh maximum security prison, hopefully bringing an end to the long-running saga of the WikiLeaks founder. On the morning of 24 June, Assange walked free after spending 1901 days in confinement. Granted bail by the High Court in London, he was released at Stansted Airport in the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the United Kingdom.
Assange’s release is the result of a sustained global campaign involving grassroots organizers, press freedom advocates, legislators, political leaders, and even the United Nations. This widespread support facilitated prolonged negotiations with the US Department of Justice, leading to a plea deal that has not yet been formally finalized. Further details of the agreement are expected to be released soon.
Assange has spent over five years in a 2×3 metre cell, isolated for 23 hours a day. His release means he will soon reunite with his wife, Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known him through prison visits.
WikiLeaks, under Assange’s direction, published groundbreaking stories exposing government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful to account. His role in these revelations came at a personal cost, as he endured years of legal battles and imprisonment for his principles and commitment to the public’s right to know.
As Assange returns to Australia, his supporters express gratitude to everyone who championed his cause and remained steadfast in the fight for his freedom. The sentiment among his advocates is clear: Julian’s freedom symbolizes a victory for press freedom and the broader fight for transparency and accountability in government.
The release of Julian Assange marks a pivotal moment for those who have long campaigned for his freedom, highlighting ongoing debates about the rights of journalists and whistleblowers in an era of increasing government secrecy.
Assange’s legal troubles began in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a series of leaks provided by US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.
The leaks included classified military and diplomatic documents, sparking a global controversy.
In 2012, facing extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual misconduct, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he remained for nearly seven years.
In April 2019, Ecuador withdrew Assange’s asylum, leading to his arrest by UK authorities. He was subsequently sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching bail conditions.
Meanwhile, the US sought his extradition on charges related to the Manning leaks, accusing him of conspiring to hack government computers and violating the Espionage Act.
Assange has spent the last five years in the UK’s high-security Belmarsh Prison while fighting extradition to the US.
His imprisonment and the ongoing legal battle have raised significant concerns about press freedom and the treatment of whistleblowers. Critics argue that prosecuting Assange for his role in publishing classified information sets a dangerous precedent for journalists worldwide.
The plea deal with the US Justice Department marks a significant turning point in Assange’s case. His supporters see it as a victory for free speech and a necessary step towards addressing the broader implications for journalism. Now, after a decade of legal battles and prolonged confinement, Julian Assange is finally on his way back to Australia.
No one should be incarcerated for publishing facts and speaking their mind.
Our ten page investigation into the death of Reuters camera crew in Iraq.
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?
A quick update on the Julian Assange story
