1/. On the 7th of September, Julian Assange is scheduled to appear court for the start of an extradition hearing that could take weeks before concluding.
The UK should not extradite #JulianAssange
The US should drop the changes against #Assange. PETITION amnesty.org/en/get-involve…
The UK should not extradite #JulianAssange
The US should drop the changes against #Assange. PETITION amnesty.org/en/get-involve…
2/. If extradited to the US, Julian Assange would face detention conditions that could amount to torture as well as the possibility of an unfair trial.
It is vital that the right to freedom of expression & access to information are protected. @wikileaks
It is vital that the right to freedom of expression & access to information are protected. @wikileaks
4/. If #Assange is extradited it will have far reaching human rights implications, setting a chilling precedent for the protection of those who publish classified information in the public interest.
I will be at the Old Bailey on Monday 9am with @amnesty.
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
I will be at the Old Bailey on Monday 9am with @amnesty.
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
5/. We’re just hours away from the resumption of #Assange’s extradition hearing
If #JulianAssange were extradited, it would set a chilling precedent for the protection of those of us who publish leaked/classified information that is in the public interest
aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio…
If #JulianAssange were extradited, it would set a chilling precedent for the protection of those of us who publish leaked/classified information that is in the public interest
aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio…
7/. “Populations don’t like wars. They have to be fooled into wars....Nearly every war that has started in the past 50 years has been a result of media lies.”
#JulianAssange’s extradition hearing resumes this morning.
#Assange #DontExtraditeAssange
#JulianAssange’s extradition hearing resumes this morning.
#Assange #DontExtraditeAssange
8/. Assange hearing scheduled to last 4 weeks
It’ll hear allegations from US Dept of Justice #Assange tried to recruit hackers to find classified govt information
The indictment under the Espionage Act inclds conspiracy to receive, obtaining & disclosing
theguardian.com/media/2020/sep…
It’ll hear allegations from US Dept of Justice #Assange tried to recruit hackers to find classified govt information
The indictment under the Espionage Act inclds conspiracy to receive, obtaining & disclosing
theguardian.com/media/2020/sep…
9/. “Julian Assange forced us in the West to look in the mirror...What we are witnessing is not judicial process, it is judicial revenge.”
Journalist @johnpilger outside the Old Bailey, where #Assange’s extradition hearing resumed today. #FreeAssange #DontExtraditeAssange
Journalist @johnpilger outside the Old Bailey, where #Assange’s extradition hearing resumed today. #FreeAssange #DontExtraditeAssange
10/. “A hard walk for any father.”
John Shipton, Julian Assange’s dad, enters the Old Bailey criminal court for the next stage of the hearings of his son’s extradition hearing.
#JulianAssange #AssangeCase #FreeAssange #DontExtraditeAssange #Assange
John Shipton, Julian Assange’s dad, enters the Old Bailey criminal court for the next stage of the hearings of his son’s extradition hearing.
#JulianAssange #AssangeCase #FreeAssange #DontExtraditeAssange #Assange
11/. “Julian Assange has just been driven into Old Bailey criminal court in an unmarked white van. Amnesty calls for the US to drop all charges related to his publishing activities & for the UK not to extradite him”. @amnesty’s ECA Director @struthers_marie #DontExtraditeAssange
12/. Today, Reporters Without Borders tried to deliver @RSF_inter’s petition with more than 80,000 signatures calling on the UK authorities not to extradite @wikileaks publisher Julian #Assange to the US.
@10DowningStreet refused to accept it says @rebecca_vincent (with @cmihr).
@10DowningStreet refused to accept it says @rebecca_vincent (with @cmihr).
13/. Editor-in-Chief of @wikileaks, @khrafnsson, points out the absurd obscenity of the US claiming that - by publishing evidence of war crimes - #JulianAssange’s was “causing harm”
He & @johnpilger have been denied access to the court for the Julian Assange extradition hearing.
He & @johnpilger have been denied access to the court for the Julian Assange extradition hearing.
14/. It may look like a carnival, but no one’s here for fun.
They are here because they recognise the devastating impact #Assanges’s extradition & trial would have on human rights.
As Žižek told me in Zucotti Park in 2011: “Carnivals come cheap. What matters is the day after.”
They are here because they recognise the devastating impact #Assanges’s extradition & trial would have on human rights.
As Žižek told me in Zucotti Park in 2011: “Carnivals come cheap. What matters is the day after.”
15/. #BREAKING
Amnesty International’s legal observer has been denied remote access to the extradition hearing of #JulianAssange
We were already refused access to the courtroom
We were assured that we’d have access to the proceedings via the Cloud.
This has not been granted.
Amnesty International’s legal observer has been denied remote access to the extradition hearing of #JulianAssange
We were already refused access to the courtroom
We were assured that we’d have access to the proceedings via the Cloud.
This has not been granted.
16/. “This is not normal. @amnesty is almost always granted access to monitor court cases around the world. For our legal observer to find out this morning that he has not been granted even REMOTE access to the #Assange proceedings is an outrage.” @amnesty’s @struthers_marie
17/. “I’m here today for the same reason I was in Iraq. Because I believe in justice & I believe in peace”
I met Eric Levy, 92, in 2003, when he became a Human Shield to try & stop the illegal war & to protect Iraqis
He stayed in a Baghdad power station throughout Shock & Awe.
I met Eric Levy, 92, in 2003, when he became a Human Shield to try & stop the illegal war & to protect Iraqis
He stayed in a Baghdad power station throughout Shock & Awe.
18/. Assange ‘s lawyer, @suigenerisjen, sets out “serious procedural concerns” with:
* the barring of legal monitors inclding @amnesty. Judge said licenses issued “by mistake”
* restricted access to lawyers who Assange hadn’t seen for 6 months
* new US indictment being issued
* the barring of legal monitors inclding @amnesty. Judge said licenses issued “by mistake”
* restricted access to lawyers who Assange hadn’t seen for 6 months
* new US indictment being issued
19/. “This is unacceptable. This case is of enormous intn’l public interest & must be open to scrutiny.” RSF’s @rebecca_vincent.
The entire list of 40 trial monitors had their remote access to the #Assange hearings withdrawn this morning. #JulianAssange
The entire list of 40 trial monitors had their remote access to the #Assange hearings withdrawn this morning. #JulianAssange
20/. Amnesty Intn’l are shocked that we’ve had our permission to observe the #Assange hearing - even remotely - revoked
Observing legal cases is our bread & butter work
We do it in countries with the most repressive regimes
We are reapplying for access.
Observing legal cases is our bread & butter work
We do it in countries with the most repressive regimes
We are reapplying for access.
21/. The US govt is not only charging a publisher who has no non-disclosure obligation but a publisher who is not a US citizen & not in the US.
They are behaving as if they have jurisdiction all over the world & can pursue any journalist. (Barry Pollack) dissenter.substack.com/p/an-interview…
They are behaving as if they have jurisdiction all over the world & can pursue any journalist. (Barry Pollack) dissenter.substack.com/p/an-interview…
22/. “Assange is wanted in US on charges of making us look like war criminals.”
No one responsible for the murderous Iraq & Agfhanistan wars has been prosecuted, let alone punished.
Yet the publisher who exposed their cimes is facing a lifetime in jail.
No one responsible for the murderous Iraq & Agfhanistan wars has been prosecuted, let alone punished.
Yet the publisher who exposed their cimes is facing a lifetime in jail.
Defense: When in receipt of classified info in the US, are you aware of examples of press proceeding to publish that material?
Mark Feldstein (expert): Yes. It’s a daily occurrence
As a journalist, people send me things. If I open a file that’s classified, could I be arrested?
Mark Feldstein (expert): Yes. It’s a daily occurrence
As a journalist, people send me things. If I open a file that’s classified, could I be arrested?
23/. “The decision to allow so few trial monitors & journalists into today’s hearing seemed more of a political decision rather than a logistical one.” @rebecca_vincent
She was one of the lucky ones who got into the courtroom for Day 1 of #JulianAssange’s extradition hearing.
She was one of the lucky ones who got into the courtroom for Day 1 of #JulianAssange’s extradition hearing.
24/. I asked #JulianAssange’s father, John Shipton, how it felt to be in the courtroom & see his son in a box.
“It’s alright for me. It’s not OK for Julian. My message for the world? If your kids get into trouble, do your damndest to defend them.” #Assange #DontExtraditeAssange
“It’s alright for me. It’s not OK for Julian. My message for the world? If your kids get into trouble, do your damndest to defend them.” #Assange #DontExtraditeAssange
25/. “Absolutely staggering!”
@JohnWRees of @STWuk on the abject lack of transparency of the judicial process in the #JulianAssange extradition hearing which started today.
“It’s impossible to regard this trial as fair”. #Assange #AssangeCase #DontExtraditeAssange
@JohnWRees of @STWuk on the abject lack of transparency of the judicial process in the #JulianAssange extradition hearing which started today.
“It’s impossible to regard this trial as fair”. #Assange #AssangeCase #DontExtraditeAssange
26/. “The German govt should act now to reject this extra-judicial prosecution...If Germany can offer #Navalny sacutuary in Berlin, why can’t they he do the same with Julian #Assange?"
@HeikeHaensel, Member of the Bundestag, observing the #JulianAssange extradition hearing.
@HeikeHaensel, Member of the Bundestag, observing the #JulianAssange extradition hearing.
27/. “What we’re seeing, at the last minute, is an absolute insult to the UK courts & to #JulianAssange & to justice. For the court to deny the request to adjourn is denying #Assange of his rights...This is no justice. No justice at all.”
Editor-in-Chief @wikileaks, @khrafnsson.
Editor-in-Chief @wikileaks, @khrafnsson.
28/. “Read this👇& tell me that the show trial of Assange doesn't read like something from Kafka. The judge permits the charges to be changed so frequently the defense doesn't even know what they are, the most basic demands are denied - a farce.” @Snowden
29/.
“They hang the man & flog the woman
Who steals the goose from off the common
Yet let the greater villain loose
That steals the common from the goose.” (Anon, 1700’s)
@iainoverton, ex-editor of @TBIJ, worked with #Assange on the Iraq War Logs. He asks why he is on trial?
“They hang the man & flog the woman
Who steals the goose from off the common
Yet let the greater villain loose
That steals the common from the goose.” (Anon, 1700’s)
@iainoverton, ex-editor of @TBIJ, worked with #Assange on the Iraq War Logs. He asks why he is on trial?
30/. @amnesty sent a formal request for access to monitor the #Assange hearing to @RobertBuckland & courts service on 17 Aug
We were granted remote access only, for the length of the hearing
Ystdy, our expert monitor @sebelgueta's access was revoked.
No update on access yet...
We were granted remote access only, for the length of the hearing
Ystdy, our expert monitor @sebelgueta's access was revoked.
No update on access yet...
31/. #BREAKING:
"I have regretfully decided not to grant your request to attend the #JulianAssange hearing via video & audio link."
@amnesty has received a reply from the judge in the #Assange hearing in response to our request to reinstate our remote access to proceedings.
"I have regretfully decided not to grant your request to attend the #JulianAssange hearing via video & audio link."
@amnesty has received a reply from the judge in the #Assange hearing in response to our request to reinstate our remote access to proceedings.
32/. “This morning we learned that we've been denied access once again to the remote technnology that’d permit us to observe #JulianAssange's extradition hearings.”
@amnesty's @JuliaHall18 on the decision of the judge in the #Assange hearing, to "regretfully" deny Amnesty access
@amnesty's @JuliaHall18 on the decision of the judge in the #Assange hearing, to "regretfully" deny Amnesty access
33/. We are shocked!
“Amnesty have done trial observation all over the world. In Guantanamo Bay, Bahrain, Equador, Hungary, Turkey etc. We are recognized as an expert in fair trial monitoring.”
This is @amnesty's bread & butter!
#Assange #JulianAssange #DontExtraditeAssange
“Amnesty have done trial observation all over the world. In Guantanamo Bay, Bahrain, Equador, Hungary, Turkey etc. We are recognized as an expert in fair trial monitoring.”
This is @amnesty's bread & butter!
#Assange #JulianAssange #DontExtraditeAssange
34/. We welcome the judge's fulsome recognition "that justice should be administered in public"
Scrutiny is a vital component of open justice which is why we're concerned all 40 NGO observers & many journalists have been denied even remote access
#Assange
Scrutiny is a vital component of open justice which is why we're concerned all 40 NGO observers & many journalists have been denied even remote access
#Assange
36/. Observing the #JulianAssange hearing remotely is far safer in times of #COVID19 than the current system whereby NGO's have to crowd around each morning with the lawyers/family/public in order to try & secure one of the 8 seats available for observers in the public galleries.
37/. This was @amnesty's 2nd application for remote access
We’ve yet to be given any reason for the refusals
Instead of explaining why our expert legal observer, @sebelgueta, is not allowed to log on & monitor the proceedings, we are given irrelevant info about #COVID.
#Assange
We’ve yet to be given any reason for the refusals
Instead of explaining why our expert legal observer, @sebelgueta, is not allowed to log on & monitor the proceedings, we are given irrelevant info about #COVID.
#Assange
39/. Coming to the end of Day 2 in the #Assange hearing
Although 40 NGO’s - including @amnesty’s @sebelgueta - didn’t get access to proceedings, other observers did.
Follow @kgosztola & @SMaurizi for updates & analysis on #JulianAssange’s hearing today👇
Although 40 NGO’s - including @amnesty’s @sebelgueta - didn’t get access to proceedings, other observers did.
Follow @kgosztola & @SMaurizi for updates & analysis on #JulianAssange’s hearing today👇
