A letter to the US attorney-general has been signed by 35 British parliamentarians calling for extradition proceedings to be dropped towards Julian Assange, on the fourth anniversary of his detention at Belmarsh jail.
Richard Burgon, Labor MP for Leeds East, organized the letter, which has been given the help of MPs and members of the Home of Lords from six events.
They name on Merrick Garland to drop the proceedings, which date again to former US president Donald Trump’s administration and, it’s claimed, relate to Assange’s “position as a journalist and writer in publishing proof of conflict crimes, corruption and human rights abuses”.
Assange is being held on remand as he challenges the Excessive Courtroom’s ruling that he must be extradited to america to face trial after leaking navy paperwork.
Mr Burgon mentioned: “British parliamentarians are more and more alarmed by the potential extradition of Julian Assange to america.
“Any extradition would, in impact, be placing press freedom on trial. It could set a harmful precedent for journalists and publishers world wide.
“4 years on since Julian Assange was first detained in Belmarsh high-security jail, now’s the fitting second to attract a line below this outrageous prosecution initiated by the Trump administration, drop the fees towards Julian Assange and permit him to return dwelling to Australia .”
Signatories embrace Conservative MP David Davis, Caroline Lucas of the Inexperienced Celebration, Jeremy Corbyn, Angus MacNeil of the Scottish Nationwide Celebration and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru.
The letter says: “If Mr Assange had been to be extradited to america, he faces a jail sentence of as much as 175 years for his publishing work which was carried out in the UK and in partnership with globally main information retailers.
“This might clearly have a chilling impression on journalism and would set a harmful precedent for different journalists and media organizations. It could additionally undermine the US’s status on freedom of expression and the rule of legislation.”
