London’s Assange Extradition Hearing Concludes
OAN’s Tom McGrath
2:30 PM – Wednesday, February 21, 2023
Free press advocates hold their breaths as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition hearing concludes.
The second day of Assange’s appeal hearing wrapped up in a London high courtroom on Wednesday.
Assange’s lawyers claimed that the U.S. government plans to punish the journalist for exposing American war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, lawyers representing Washington asserted their prosecution is not politically motivated and that Assange must appear before an American court for breaking U.S. laws.
Assange’s wife Stella disagrees with that sentiment.
“They have to admit that what they’re doing is criminalizing journalism, is criminalizing the truth,” Stella said. “They are liars, they are criminals, and they are persecuting the journalists who expose them.”
The two presiding judges are expected to issue their decision in early March.
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In what ways does Assange’s case highlight the challenges facing journalists and the importance of protecting press freedom in the digital age
T the U.S. has jurisdiction over someone who is not an American citizen,” she said. “If we allow this to happen, it sets a dangerous precedent for journalism and whistleblowers around the world.”
Assange, the founder of the controversial website WikiLeaks, has been fighting extradition to the United States for nearly a decade. He has been accused of leaking classified government documents and other sensitive information that exposed government wrongdoing and human rights abuses.
Supporters argue that Assange is a journalist and publisher who should be protected by freedom of speech and the right to expose government misconduct. They believe that his prosecution is a direct attack on press freedom and an attempt to silence those who dare to challenge the powerful.
However, his critics argue that Assange’s actions go beyond journalism and into the realm of espionage. They argue that by disclosing classified information, he jeopardized national security and endangered the lives of individuals involved in sensitive operations.
Assange’s case has sparked intense debates and divided opinions across the globe. It has forced societies to confront the balance between national security and the public’s right to know. It has raised questions about the role of journalism in the digital age and the responsibilities of individuals and organizations in handling classified information.
While some view Assange as a hero and advocate for transparency, others see him as a dangerous figure who has undermined international diplomacy and compromised the safety of individuals.
The outcome of Assange’s extradition hearing will have far-reaching implications for press freedom and the future of journalism. It will set a precedent for how governments can prosecute journalists and whistleblowers who expose government wrongdoing. It will impact the ability of journalists to hold those in power accountable and the public’s right to access information that may be critical to democratic decision-making.
As the hearing concludes, the international community eagerly awaits the judge’s decision. Whatever the outcome, the Assange case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing journalists and the importance of protecting press freedom in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
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