The Case of Julian Assange – ELDH Webinar – 21 February 2024, 18.30 CET / 5.30pm GMT

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85241006112?pwd=N2lnL2NxaUprUFNRV0h4SFhOY20xQT09

Meeting ID 852 4100 6112
Passcode 590060

The Assange case is one of the worst judicial scandals in the universe of so-called human rights states.

Julian Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing platform WikiLeaks, is still is still being held in a high-security maximum security prison in southeast London in the UK because of an extradition request of the USA in a high-security prison in the UK, although he should have been released in should have been released in September 2019. Warders confine him to a cell for 23 out of every 24 hours. His single hour of recreation takes place within four walls, under supervision. Before that, he was forced to take shelter at the Ecuadorian embassy for 8 years.

In April 2019, Julian Assange was arrested by the British authorities at the Ecuadorian embassy in London. In May 2019, he was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for violating the terms of his parole. Although he should have been released in September 2019, he is still being held in a high-security prison in the UK due to an extradition request from the USA. The US is demanding his extradition because he published documents on his WikiLeaks platform that revealed actions by the US military that may constitute war crimes.

On 6 June 2023, the British High Court rejected the latest appeal against his extradition. Julian Assange now only has one final appeal left before the legal process is exhausted and he must turn to the European Court of Human Rights.

According to Amnesty International, Julian Assange would face serious human rights violations in the US, including detention conditions that could amount to torture or other ill-treatment. Given the targeted campaign waged against him by high-ranking US officials, which has severely undermined his right to be presumed innocent, the risk of an unfair trial is very high.

Julian Assange’s renewed application for permission to appeal being listed on 20 and 21 February 2024. At the time of the webinar we will know the outcome.

At the conclusion of what may be the final stage of appeal in the UK in the Assange case the European Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights will host an important online public meeting. 

The panel of eminent jurists & experts will sum up the two days of appeal & explore the implications of the appeal for democracy, press freedom and human rights.

After each contribution which will take up to 15  minutes, Q & A are possible. The speakers have the opportunity for concluding comments.

For more details about the case the Book of Nils Melzer (United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture)