A group of members of the European Parliaments, and former members of Congress and local legislatures have written to Britain’s secretary of state for justice urging that Julian Assange be released from Belmarsh prison on compassionate grounds.
The text of the letter signed by former British MP Chris Williamson, former U.S. Mike Gravel and former Congressman Ron Paul among other political leaders:
June 1, 2020
FAO The Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP
Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice
CC The Hon Bob Neill MP
UK Commons Justice Committee Chair
Dear Sir,
REQUEST FOR COMPASSIONATE RELEASE OF JULIAN ASSANGE
As current and former elected representatives in democracies committed to human rights, the presumption of innocence and the rule of law, we wish to support the urgent appeal sent to you by Australian MPs Andrew Wilkie and George Christensen, who wrote:
“We ask that you urgently reconsider providing Mr Assange with release from Belmarsh Prison to monitored home detention, as he fits all of the grounds noted for such early release by leading organisations as the World Health Organisation, the United Nations and the UK Prison Officers Association. These organisations have been unanimous in calling for the release of all non-violent COVID-19 prisoners, and we ask that you give compassionate consideration to the following:
- Mr Assange is a non-violent remand prisoner with no history of harm to the community. He is not convicted and is thus entitled to the presumption of innocence.
- Doctors of Mr Assange warn he is at high risk from dying if he contracts COVID-19 as he has a pre-existing chronic lung condition.
- We are advised that COVID-19 is rapidly spreading throughout UK prisons, and that there are infections [and at least one death] at Belmarsh Prison.
- We understand that the prison is short staffed and normal activity regimes are suspended.
- Mr Assange is in poor mental health due to spending so much time in solitary confinement over recent years, and prison COVID-19 lockdown measures are further undermining his mental health.
We ask that you give further consideration to the very reasonable request by Mr Assange’s lawyers that this non-violent Australian prisoner be released into home detention with a 24-hour ankle monitor.”
With the director of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention warning of a second wave of coronavirus during influenza season, we stress that even those vulnerable prisoners, such as Julian Assange, who survive the current crisis remain at risk.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, former Member of the Legislative Council of NSW, Australia
Clare Daly, Member of the European Parliament, Republic of Ireland
Andrew Feinstein, former Member of the African National Congress, South Africa
Mike Gravel, former US Senator, United States
Heike Hänsel, Member of the German Bundestag, Germany
Eva Joly, former Member of the European Parliament, France
Ogmundur Jonasson, former Member of the Icelandic Parliament, Iceland
Ron Paul, former US Congressman, United States
Yanis Varoufakis, Member of the Greek Parliament, Greece
Mick Wallace, Member of the European Parliament, Republic of Ireland
Chris Williamson, former Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Signatories from the European Parliament:
Stelios Kouloglou– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Greece
Dimitrios Papadimoulis-Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Greece
Marketa Gregorova– Czech Pirate Party – Czech Republic
Yana Toom– Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe – Estonia
Marisa Matias– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – portugal
Maria Arena– Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats – Belgium
Carles Puigdemont– Non Attached – Spain
Antoni Comin– Non attached – Spain
Clara Ponsati– Non attached – Spain
Dietmar Koster– Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats – Germany
Kostantinos Arvanitis– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Greece
Eleonora Evi– Non attached member – Italy
Martin Sonnenborn– Non attached member – Germany
Helmut Scholz– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Germany
Clare Daly– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Ireland
Mick Wallace– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Ireland
Katerina Konecna-Group of the European United Left -Czechia
Jose Gusmao– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Portugal
Eugenia Rodriguez Palop– group of the European United left – Spain
Klaus Buchner– Greens – Germany
Idoia Ruiz Villanueva– European United Left – Spain
Manuel Bompard– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – France
Damien Careme– Greens – France
Marc Johan Botenga– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Belgium
Cornelia Ernst– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Germany
Diana Riba Greens– Spain
Derk Jan Eppink– European Conservatives and Reformists Group – Netherlands
Rob Roos– European Conservatives and Reformists Group – Netherlands
Rob Rooken-European Conservatives and Reformists Group – Netherlands
Petros Kokkalis-Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Greece
Patrick Breyer– Greens – Germany
Alviina Alametsä– Greens -Finland
Martin Buschmann– Non attached – German
Sira Rego– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left- Spain
Manu Pineda– Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left – Spain
Ismail Ertug– Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats – Germany
Yes of course release him NOW!
This is illegal. Free Julian
This is an intolerable situation and there are no grounds for continued incarceration.
Julian Assange is the “revolutionary Jesus” of the 21st century. What has changed in 2000 years by today’s barbaric US/UK ROMAN governments? Truth today is just as inflammatory & worthy of prosecution as it was then! Isn’t it time for the masses to become empowered & show their true strength in numbers to the handful of psycopaths in power? Or do we wait to be tested, again, in another 2K years with these same conflicts facing us?
I really appreciate this effort. I notice that many of the signers are “former” elected officials. Why haven’t ALL elected members from these countries signed this appeal? Why?
THE LEADERS(TRUMP ,BORIS JOHNSON, MORRISON PM OF AUSTRALIA) ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE POWER TO DECIDE JULIAN ASSANGE ‘S LIFE. THEIR FAILURE TO ACT TO RELEASE HIM IS CONFIRMATION OF THEIR HIPOCRACY AND THEIR LIES OF DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE,UPHOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS . THEY HAVE NO GROUND TO STAND ON IN THEIR CRITICISM OF ANY OTHER LEADER IN THE WORLD. JOURNALISTS (SOME HAVE THE SAME POLITICS) KEEP CALLING THEM LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD. IT IS TIME THEY WAKE UP .THE LONG HISTORY OF COLONIALISM ,IMPEREALISM .CORRUPTIONS, BRIBERY, WAR CRIMES AND HIDDEN SECRETS (CLASSIFIED IFORMATION) REVEAL THEY ARE CONTINUING OR REVERTING TO THE PAST AND OPPOSING THE GLOBAL MARCH TO A HUMANE CIVILISATION ON EARTH. THE GLOBAL PROTEST MOVEMENTS IN RECENT WEEKS IS A HUMAN REAWAKENING .
Julian did the world a great service and has been deliberately been unlawfully punished for doing so. It is continuing the injustice to refuse to release him.
All he did was tell the truth.. which apparently is a crime nowadays sadly .. he is an innocent man .
All he did was tell the truth.. which apparently is a crime nowadays sadly .. His health should be taken into account now .. set him free for goodness sake !
He should be released immediately he is not a risk to the general public and his only crime was telling the truth about corrupt people
bill of human rights applies to all and have I not already said that???
That’s the problem He told the truth. And Clinton is part of the Deep State. They’re trying to make an example out of him
Release him now
Mr Assange needs to be released now.
He is not a perfect human being . But nobody is . We are all guity the way the world is today. This man has family and children and nobody cares . This is why groups all over the word are feed up with today’s politicians.
Do the right thing and let him live before he dies like a rat or worse with no dignity or compassion yours truly Robert Meyer Canada
He is not a threat to society. This man is a hero and should be free.
He helped President Trump with his support. Her majesty the Queen should pardon him after all she owns Countries. I support Julian Assange whats not to like a our hi.
I wonder, where is somebody from Sweden, between all those about 47 Europs politicians, and many organisations, calling on UK to releas J. Assange fr. Belmars prison!??
His suffaring started by sudden accusation in Sweden, for raping 1 woman! After He was properly heard of lawful prosecutor – he was released, free of charg, free to travell too, to London.
Then, after changing previously prosecutor, Assange was again suspected for rape, for that previous woman again, and one more…now 2 weman! Assange volutarinly whanted to be heard by Swedish law, in thears Ambassy in London (what is ussualy praxis, many times), becouse he was afraid of deleverate him to USA, from Sweden…
Sweden didn’t agree to hear him in London, persistent insisting of his coming to Sweden!?? Thatsway he had to liv his life in asil in Equadors Ambassy for så many years….and now he is like one of the worst criminals in Belmors preason too..
We all knew who is J. Assange! His high proper qualites like human being and thruthfull journalist! The whole World does!!! And that he is innocent too!!!
Why don’t you help him, Sweden!?!?
Let him go
Free Assange now! No more government secrecy, cover ups and lies about misconduct.
Although i am not British i feel so ashamed for Britain which has developed into a fascist state.
How can they do this! How can they not listen to so many good, integer people asking for Julians release. My thoughts are with him and his family.
Please, Britains, set Julian Assange free! Let him choose the only country where he will be secure. It will have to be Russia.
About time too little too late this should have been done long before and even without covid-19 as an excuse
This all shows what governments have to hide. secrecy is a tool of the corrupt. exposing that secrecy is frought with peril. but truth and honesty will, in the end, win.
What an education it is to compare British treatment of the truth teller Julian Assange and tax-payer funded Prince Andrew. Julian rots in Belmarsh prison (Britain’s version of Guantanamo bay) while the Prince (who doesn’t sweat) is pampered, overindulged and protected even though everyone thinks he’s a lying nonce.
Yes Our aussie government wishes to allow a drug trafficker held in china to go free, but allows a non violent prisoner with no charges against himto rot until the US has him by the throat to do who knows what to him without a fair trial for being a journalist! This goverment bows to CHINA and the US government all the time.
All my support and best wishes for this movement. Please. Release Mr. Assange. What he has endured is enough.
Such appalling treatment of Assange exposes the lie to our supposed democracies and their rule of law. Protocols of international law have been flouted at every turn over the past decade following a decision made to ‘get’ Assange over the embarrassment he has caused to so many of the powerful gangsters in governments and corporations by him finding a way to help let some light in on the stories citizens have both a right and a need (in order to able to vote knowingly) to know about. Well, now we know that the system his horridly corrupt and every day they hold Assange, they prove it even more. It has to stop! Release the journalist and political prisoner Julian Assange!
Release Julian Assange from unlawful imprisonment now!
The USA has given the world much in the form of innovation and technology but ask youself: Wherein lie all the successful economic and military interventions. Where lies the fallen signpost to all the moral and intellectual leadership successes?
Ask which countries maintain and practice their humor and you will be naming the countries with the greatest stability of law and institutions with little need for a Human Rights Commission. Sadly the reverse is also true. Once the UK lead the world in humour now it is beginning to ban those satires that thrived. Should Johnson be a true man and not a poodle to the CIA and USA he would consider the case of Julian Assange.
Release Assange as soon as possible.
Julian Assange has been released!!
This is the headline I want to see today!!
America has decided that Julian Assange and truth telling is a crime—–will England join in their charade? Two nations—one has already chosen hypocrisy. Will England be joining them?
If Assange is released and voluntarily submits to continuous monitoring, then a ’round the clock security will be required to prevent his assassination. There may be wealthy and powerful individual(s) who may extend both accommodation and protection offer to Assange. There are a few such individuals still around, for example the mercantile families of Greece, ditto Argentina or Brazilian Oligarchs. South American aristocratic families shun new money in particular from drug lords and have a disdain for mobsters who move into their “neighborhood” Or perhaps an old family in Monaco will extend their hand and offer asylum. If you watch vids for weddings and other ritzy glam celebrations as I do from afar, that is, I noticed a distinct absence of middle eastern sheiks from these events. A disapproving rebuke to the ilk who murdered Jamal Khashoggi? Believe it or not there is a collective social conscience among the wealthiest. Maybe a big time casino owner from Macau will come forward? Plenty of Asian types (prince-lings?) attended that last ritzy marriage I tuned into and held in Monaco (Monte Carlo). This comment is not intended to make sport of Julian’s predicament. I’m very serious about the power and influence it will take to protect Assange and we mustn’t rely on any state security agency or apparatus, need I remind CONSORTIUMNEWS readers of the revelations uncovered long after the RFK assassination?
No plea
Did not know Bob Parry,
Now, I do, with glee.
He showed how corrupted
Our world is, head to tail!
He showed us how Reagan
Encouraged North: “Disguise,”
And with him were involved
Khomeini and Rabbis,
Devils of Israel!
So, they ganged together
Shook hands and united
And became vampires!
We, the simple people
Spoke and commented
On Iran-USA (relations.)
Some prayed for Iran
Some sided with Saddam.
No talk of Israel
And game of Tel Aviv…
Robert or Bob was the
That followed and traced.
He told and informed us:
“Saddam is Reagan’s pawn!”
Now, paper of Parry
Asks London, seeks plea
And kind of compassion to
Release Assange.
Julian was young man
And he walked the same path
Screened lies and fact…
If you were a brave
Must love and admire
The ones with guts to dare
Going, to fight devils…
Yes, life is sweet but
Hero’s death is above,
Forever keeps alive.
Compassion of UK?
I hate such request
Since adores Britain!
Find me one mean item
Even one single page
Or behaviour, action
Not to root in London!
It is impossible…
I side with the Afghans
And Chinese and Iran
To compare jackal, fox
With British Royals…
London sowed, injected
Dirtiness, filthiness,
In blood and each cell
Of rulers and churches!
To the kings and queens
The move is heroic
When it is “Machiavelli’s!”
Change colour, chameleon
With the night and the day!
Bribing and lying
Preaching, misguiding
Everyone, everywhere
Is good and accepted,
Admired as brave,
Only if London gain.
Only one Australian politician and not one Federal politician??? It would be different if Julian was a gold medal Olympic champion. Do not talk to me about The virtue of Aussies we are a nasty, subservient, stupid nation. I speak from first hand knowledge being 3rd generation and 73 years of age.
Maybe BobHawke would”ve had the courage to bring him home?
I’m 75 and Australian . I totally agree . We have gutless Politician & gutless MSM a/holes who consider themselves as “Journalists”.
They are not fit to be mentioned in the space as Julian Assange – a true Hero & an Australian deserted by his own Country via the MSM.
The ABC & SBS are just propaganda channels sprouting lies & misinformation especially about this Virus BS which in reality is not worse than a Bad Flue season. A Pox on all of them . Good article – keep the fight going for Julian.
Mr Flanigan – a bad reflection on the Aussie govt, I would agree, as it has been all along (not that I would trust Morrison NOT to hand Assange over to the Muricans had they stood by him and got him released to their embassy staff).
And in complete contrast to the Chinese conviction and sentence to execution of an Aussie drug smuggler (deep shades of the Brits in the 19thC in China with Opium) caught with some 7+ kilos of Methamphetamine on him (hardly for his own use). The Aussie govt is up in arms about this. (Not that I’m for execution – quite the opposite; it is barbaric no matter who does it [the Muricans, in some states, continue to].)
Apparently a drug smuggler matters much more than an exposer of the awful truths of governmental, military actions (all countries).
Absolutely! Release Julian Assange Now!
Julian Asange is the jewel of the warriors …we need outstanding personalities like him to guide us in this corrupted world..
The world is already in the verge of annihilation …
Have some fear on God !!!
Bravo to all of you. Would that this were a time and a situation in which such a plea from such an august group was not necessary. In a country that has not gone down the rabbit hole to join the USA in Wonderland of hell, this would have been done as a matter of course. However, it wouldn’t have been necessary in such a country, either. Assange would never have been forced to take asylum to begin with in this sadly imaginary country.
I agree
I am ashamed to be British when I see what our Government, Courts and prisons are doing to Julian, a journalist who has done no more than publish the truth. The whole process is corrupt. Julian should be freed and compensated, as recommended by the United Nations.
I really appreciate this effort. I notice that many of the signers are “former” elected officials. Why haven’t ALL elected members from these countries signed this appeal? Why?
Why haven’t all other news “media” published this appeal? (The second one is a rhetorical question).
> I notice that many of the signers are “former” elected officials.
No, only a couple are. All the rest are current office-holders.
I think it is especially praiseworthy that several conservative and social-democratic parliamentarians signed, since their parties are in governments that actively support the policies of the US and UK governments.