Is Julian Assange a Political Prisoner? | The Epoch Times
The constant rejection of Assange’s legal team’s arguments and delays to the extradition procedure no longer serve the interests of justice.
Commentary
On March 26, the King’s Bench Division of the UK High Court released its approved judgment in the extradition case of Julian Assange. The judgment has not decisively resolved the matter but has instead prolonged the uncertainty surrounding Mr. Assange’s fate.
Despite the nine arguments presented by WikiLeaks founder’s legal team against his extradition, the court did not reach a conclusive decision. Instead, it requested further information from the respondents (the U.S. government, the UK Secretary of State for the Home Department), resulting in a delay in Mr. Assange’s extradition process.
Mr. Assange’s wife, Stella, a lawyer and advocate for his release, reacted angrily to the judgment, considering Mr. Assange a political prisoner who has been effectively confined for 12 years.
The court has asked for assurances from the respondents by April 16 that Mr. Assange will be well-treated if extradited to the United States. This decision has sparked debate over whether Mr. Assange is a political prisoner and raises questions about political opinion versus political offense.
Political Opinion vs. Political Offense
The court dismissed Mr. Assange’s claim that the extradition was sought for a political offense, citing provisions in the UK-U.S. Extradition treaty. His legal team argued that the extradition request targeted his political opinions, which is prohibited by the 2003 Act. However, the court found that this prohibition was not part of the UK’s domestic legal system.
Despite this, the court’s decision to seek additional assurances from the United States on Mr. Assange’s treatment before extradition has raised concerns. It is crucial to consider whether Mr. Assange’s actions constitute the expression of political opinions and whether they should be protected under the law.
Regardless, Enough is Enough
After 12 years of incarceration, some argue that Mr. Assange has suffered enough and should be allowed to return to Australia. The ongoing rejection of his legal team’s arguments and delays in the extradition process no longer align with the interests of justice.
Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
