US justice system: Australia’s prime minister stands up for Julian Assange

During his state visit to the USA, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese once again called for the release of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who is imprisoned in Great Britain. During informal discussions this week, he directly addressed US President Joe Biden’s concerns about the 52-year-old Australian, who has been in a London prison for four and a half years. The head of government confirmed this to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

“Enough is enough, I have made that clear, and that it is time to bring this matter to a conclusion,” the paper quoted Albanese as saying. He did not want to comment on the direct content of the talks and Biden’s reaction.

British government agrees to extradition

Assange has been in a British prison since April 2019. Before that, he had been stuck in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years to avoid arrest and extradition to the USA. The United States accuses Assange of having, together with US whistleblower Chelsea Manning, stolen and published secret material from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, thereby endangering the lives of informants. If extradited, he could face up to 175 years in prison.

Supporters, on the other hand, see Assange as a courageous journalist who brought war crimes to light. The government in London has agreed to the extradition. But the legal tug-of-war is not over yet. Albanese has repeatedly advocated for Assange’s release since he took office last year.

Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton said he was “worried” about him after a recent visit to prison. “He’s still fighting, he’s persevering, despite everything he’s been through and despite the opponent he’s up against,” Shipton explained. “But he’s not the same man he was a year ago.” The imprisonment took its toll.