The first phase of Julian Assange’s extradition hearing to the United States began in London this week. Assange is wanted for leaking documents proving war crimes committed by the American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Assange was forced into a glass box during the trial, which his lawyers naturally objected to, arguing that it prevented him from communicating with their client. The trial was adjourned until May 18th.
The first phase of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition to the United States has come to an end a day earlier than scheduled as a result of the scandal around the glass box.
The trial took place at Woolwich Court which is near the Belmarsh Prison where Assange is being held. The case was adjourned until May 18th, when the second phase will begin. In the second phase, which is expected to last 3 weeks, numerous witnesses will testify.
At the trial, Assange’s lawyers demanded that the Wikileaks founder be allowed to sit next to them in order to facilitate communication without being overheard by the accuser. Rejecting this request, the judge said other measures could be taken in order to foster communication. These measures will be announced nearer to the launch of the second phase of the trial.
Is extradition a death sentence?
Edward Fitzgerald, the senior lawyer representing Assange, said that extradition would expose the WikiLeaks founder to a long-time prison sentence and would be a “pinnacle of cruelty” and result in a “high risk for suicide”.
In addition, lawyers have warned that Assange could face “fatal consequences” if extradited to the United States where he is accused on 18 different charges, including allegations of espionage and hacking.
https://twitter.com/AssangeScotland/status/1234394675546644481
Concern over freedom of press
Speaking to reporters after the trial, one of Assange’s lawyers, Jennifer Robinson, stressed that the judge’s decision had raised serious concerns about her client’s right to a fair trial.
Robinson said that this week’s trials were important for the defence, and argued that the US government has skewed the facts in order to make the extradition seem legitimate.
In light of the seriousness of a journalist being accused of espionage, Robinson told reporters that “this case sets a terrible example for press freedom. As of today’s decision, we are quite concerned”.
Assange’s father, John Shipton, thanked the demonstrators who supported them while he left the courthouse.
175 years in prison
If extradited, Assange could face up to 175 years in prison.
The approval by the UK government will be needed in order to extradite Assange, but it is expected that an appeal will be filed and that the case will be taken to the European Court of Human Rights, where it may take up to 2 years for the process to be completed.
The right to a fair trial has already been violated
US prosecutors are claiming that the lives of the informants working for the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan were put at risk by the documents released by Wikileaks.
Assange’s lawyers have argued that the Wikileaks founder’s crime was a political one aimed at changing US policy by exposing their war crimes, pointing out that the extradition agreement between Washington and the UK does not cover political crimes.
After yesterday’s trial, Assange’s lawyers noted that their client was handcuffed 11 times, subjected to 2 strip searches and that the file he had read at the trial was confiscated.
#GiletsJaunes who have travelled from #Paris give a yellow vest to Julian #Assange. Presenting it to his father before the extradition hearing in #London begins. #FreeAssange#DontExtraditeAssange
pic.twitter.com/0BVhcH7bu8— nonouzi (@Gerrrty) February 24, 2020
Lawsuit process
Wikileaks publicized several classified documents in 2010, including evidence of US warcrimes and torture in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in June 2012 pending extradition to Sweden on charges of rape and sexual harassment. The charges against him were found to be insubstantial and the case was dismissed.
Assange was taken into custody on April 11, 2019 after a new Ecuadorian leader friendlier to the United States came into power. Assange was arrested for violating the terms of his bail. The court sentenced Assange to 50 weeks in prison for the crime. After serving his 50-week sentence, Assange was sentenced to stay indefinitely as a result of a request for his extradition to the United States.
How has the British press reflected the case?
According to the BBC, Assange had difficulties speaking at the trial, even struggling to give his name and date of birth. The BBC described Assange’s extradition as “a brutal attack on journalism/publishing.” The BBC also reported that a large group of protesters gathered outside to support him. It also quoted Jennifer Robinson saying that “the extradition would scare off all the press workers in the world.” Robinson emphasized that Assange had exposed war crimes, human rights violations and corruption around the world, and had published only accurate information. The BBC also added that Assange had complained that he could not conduct any further investigations from his location.
The Independent said it was “highly likely that Assange would commit suicide if he was extradited to the United States” and that “if convicted, he could face a 175-year prison sentence.” His lawyers wrote that while Assange was at the Ecuadorian Embassy, he faced attempted poisonings, had his phone calls tapped and was nearly kidnapped. The Independent also noted that during his 50-week sentence in Belmarsh Prison, Assange was prevented from seeing the main evidence of the trial, which is illegal.
The Guardian reported that the Trump administration sees Assange as an “enemy of the United States” and rephrased that Assange’s life was in danger. They also reported that Assange, an Australian national, had worked with the US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning revealing some of the US’ illegal activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that there would be some anonymous witnesses at the trial. They noted that one potential problem was that Assange had published some US’ agents’ names without concealing them. They also reported that Assange had so many supporters outside yelling he could not even properly hear the judge.
His supporters were not allowed into the trial because they would overcrowd the hall, however 33 parliamentarians from 12 different countries, Assange’s father and brother and members of the press from numerous countries did attend.