“Crazy thing,” says Lula in reference to Assange’s detention
The WikiLeaks founder’s protracted detention, according to the president of Brazil, is a violation of the right to free speech.
The UK’s treatment of Julian Assange has drawn criticism from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He demanded that the government free the WikiLeaks founder, claiming that he was detained due to his work as a journalist.
“It is embarrassing that a journalist who exposed deceit by one state against another is detained and given the death penalty while we do nothing to secure his release. After attending the coronation of King Charles III in London on Saturday, Lula told reporters, “It’s a strange thing.
Assange’s situation involves freedom of expression, he added, and the Australian national is only in jail “because he denounced wrongdoing.” In addition, Lula berated the media for not supporting their colleague.
Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, claimed on Thursday that keeping Assange in jail would accomplish “nothing.” He made this claim while speaking to Australia’s ABC broadcaster from London.
He said, “This needs to be brought to a conclusion,” and Canberra is “working through diplomatic channels, we’re making very clear what our position is on Mr. Assange’s case.”
Albanese, who has already criticized Assange’s detention on numerous occasions, acknowledged that the procedure is “frustrating.”
The WikiLeaks founder, who has been incarcerated since 2019 at London’s Belmarsh maximum security prison, sent a letter to King Charles III on Friday. He invited the monarch to the institution, among other things.
I am delighted to live within the walls of this world-class institution as a political prisoner, imprisoned at Your Majesty’s leisure on behalf of a humiliated foreign nation, the journalist wrote.
After Ecuador rescinded his refugee status and granted permission for the UK police to take him from the country’s embassy in London, Assange was detained by British authorities. Since 2012, the WikiLeaks founder had taken refuge on the grounds of the diplomatic post.
The US Department of Justice filed 17 allegations against Assange on the day of his detention under the Espionage Act, which if proven true could result in a 175-year prison sentence. A US extradition request is now being fought by his defense team.
The accusations are related to his disclosure of secret information collected by informants, including classified documents alleging US war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Assange was indicted for his role in publishing these materials even though he did not personally hack them.
