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Julian Assange fears death penalty in America
WikiLeaks founder believes extradition to Sweden could lead to illegal rendition and execution in America
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is living in fear of being illegally deported to the US, held at Guantanamo Bay and then executed by the American authorities, according to the defence team fighting his extradition from Britian to Sweden.
In their summary of arguments against Sweden's extradition request, Assange's lawyers state that there is a "real risk" that he could end up facing the death penalty on the other side of the Atlantic. They are concerned that if their client is sent back to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual assault, the US would subsequently seek his extradition and could even try to have him illegally seized.
The lawyers' 35-page submission to the court states: "There is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the US will seek his extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere."
It goes on: "If Mr Assange were rendered to the USA, without assurances that the death penalty would not be carried out, there is a real risk that he could be made subject to the death penalty. It is well-known that prominent figures have implied, if not stated outright, that Mr Assange should be executed."
The document goes on to quote Sarah Palin - who said he should be "hunted down just like al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders" - and Mike Huckabee - who has demanded his execution.
His legal team, led by Geoffrey Robertson QC, also claim that there have been abuses of process over his extradition and that the case against him in Sweden is politically motivated.
At a short hearing at Belmarsh magistrates court today, it was agreed that his extradition case should be heard on February 7 and 8. Assange's bail conditions were altered so that he can stay at the Frontline Club for journalists in Paddington while the hearing takes place.
After the hearing, Assange said he was "happy about today's outcome". Among his supporters in court were Bianca Jagger, Jemima Khan and Gavin MacFadyen, director of the Centre for Investigative Journalism. ·
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Lets hope the British judicial system is lead by a more moral force than the British political system. Assange has already made the Sir Thomas More jesture of placing what he believes is the truth above his political masters' demands. Whether he is treated as Manning is or interrogated in the Tower before getting a "fair trial" and being hung drawn and quartered as Sir Thomas was will make little difference in terms of pain. An American trashing is designed to inspire fear. It succeeds. But it also endorses my notion that Americans get worse by the day and British politicians need to reposition.
It would take a bizarre twist in the US justice system to hand out better justice to Julian Assange than Bradley Manning is getting. Any judge who hands him over the the USA should be unwigged and thrown in a mental institution for being of unsound mind.