Assange is wanted in the United States on espionage charges and faces 18 charges related to the publication of top-secret information about Washington's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
Assange has been held in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London since 2019. (Photo: Internet).
The Australian parliament has approved a motion calling on the United States and the United Kingdom to end the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and allow his return to the Oceanian country, local media reported on Wednesday.
SpecialIndependent MP Andrew Wilkie's initiative was approved, receiving 86 votes in favour – including that of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – with the support of Labour, Greens and independents, against 42 votes against.
“Today’s vote is the greatest evidence yet that Assange’s imprisonment is unjust and demonstrates once again the widespread support he enjoys in Parliament. “The US must recognize the weight of Australia’s political support and abandon the extradition process,” Wilkie said.
“Justice will not be served”
In this sense, he assured that there is almost no time left to save the activist while “there is no justice in this case”.
“If he were extradited to the US, it would be a direct attack on media freedom because it would set a frightening precedent for all journalists that they too risk being jailed simply for doing their job,” he added .
The 52-year-old Australian activist is wanted in the United States on espionage charges and faces 18 charges related to the publication of top-secret information about Washington's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He has been in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London since 2019. Next week, the U.K. Supreme Court will hold a hearing to decide whether Assange can appeal his extradition to the North American country, where he could be sentenced to 175 years in prison if found guilty.
