Thread by @deepa_driver

Today, I observed the legal proceedings in the case of #Assange on behalf of @SocialistLawyer

Thanks to those who live-tweeted. (I particularly miss the voice of Craig @cmurrayjustice )

Now a few personal comments about the key points of concern in this historic case 🧵

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It is easy to be distracted by the finer points of law & to focus on dancing on the head of a pin. But what are the big issues

a) What shouldn’t be up for debate is that states & corporations that commit grave crimes must be held accountable by the media & judiciary
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b) #Assange is in Belmarsh deprived of family, friends and medical care. Meanwhile the war criminals are free because of serious & repeated failings in ensuring any accountability for horrific crimes.

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c) What’s really at stake is democracy. Will the UK
1) allow the US to use its extraterritorial reach - on a non-US publisher, operating outside the US - to
2) enable the US to punish #Assange brutally for revealing true info in the public interest
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3) choose to set a harsh precedent for how the UK will deter journalists & whistleblowers who reveal truths about state criminality & war crimes
4) turn a blind eye to breaches of attorney-client privilege against #Assange by the US #UCGlobal
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5) acknowledge the serious, intentional & repeated failures in open justice to date (today was a refreshing improvement!). The obstructive & dehumanising treatment meted to observers throughout this process has been reported on by @rebecca_vincent. It needs investigation.

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6) offer the US different standards of “fairness” & due process compared to that offered to #Assange’s defense team (note how the US proceedings were served well past the deadline twice & note that he’s in prison despite winning in order to be “fair” to the US )

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7) continue to wilfully ignore that #Assange has been tortured & they haven’t yet investigated @nilsmelzer’s findings or that the UK is ignoring its duties under international law

8) ignore the fact that #Assange can’t get a fair trial in the US

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Another important broader question is the scale of true dissent & if human rights organisations, press freedom groups & mainstream media commentators care about this justice & democracy. Pay attention to those who are quiet. Ask them to speak up !
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