tovaris
February 5th, 2016, 05:46 AM
LONDON — The United Nations ruled Friday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by the United Kingdom and Sweden since he was arrested in 2010 and that he should be allowed to leave Ecuador's Embassy in London without facing arrest
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/fcf91f5cc96919d6462655c2fe335e0c1b594dcb/c=450-0-4017-2682&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/02/05/USATODAY/USATODAY/635902381560118616-EPA-FILE-BRITAIN-ASSANGE-79396644.JPG
In a statement, the U.N.'s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, called on both countries “to end Mr. Assange’s deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation.”
It said Assange's initial detention in a London prison, his subsequent house arrest and "confinement" at the embassy were "disproportionate" reactions.
Assange has been holed up in Ecuador's Embassy in London since June 2012. If he steps outside, British police said he would immediately be arrested and face extradition to Sweden and the United States. Sweden is seeking his extradition because Assange is accused of being involved in a suspected rape case, an allegation he denies. He has not been formally charged.
Assange had faced three other sexual assault charges in the country, but they expired in August because of the statute of limitations. The U.S. Justice Department wants to charge Assange with espionage related to WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of diplomatic letters.
/.../ (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/)
Source &full article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/
(http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/)
http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/fcf91f5cc96919d6462655c2fe335e0c1b594dcb/c=450-0-4017-2682&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/02/05/USATODAY/USATODAY/635902381560118616-EPA-FILE-BRITAIN-ASSANGE-79396644.JPG
In a statement, the U.N.'s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, called on both countries “to end Mr. Assange’s deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation.”
It said Assange's initial detention in a London prison, his subsequent house arrest and "confinement" at the embassy were "disproportionate" reactions.
Assange has been holed up in Ecuador's Embassy in London since June 2012. If he steps outside, British police said he would immediately be arrested and face extradition to Sweden and the United States. Sweden is seeking his extradition because Assange is accused of being involved in a suspected rape case, an allegation he denies. He has not been formally charged.
Assange had faced three other sexual assault charges in the country, but they expired in August because of the statute of limitations. The U.S. Justice Department wants to charge Assange with espionage related to WikiLeaks' publication of thousands of diplomatic letters.
/.../ (http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/)
Source &full article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/
(http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/05/un-panel-wikileaks-assange-arbitrarily-detained/79863912/)