At the initiative of PCP MEPs in the European Parliament (EP), 45 MEPs from various EP political groups call for the immediate release of Julian Assange.

The attached text appeals to the UK Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Ms. Priti Patel, to refuse the extradition of Julian Assange to the US and to the US Attorney General, Merrick B. Garland to drop the charges against Julian Assange with a view to his immediate release.

APPEAL

To the UK Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Priti Patel
To United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland

The British court’s decision to authorize Julian Assange’s extradition to the United States of America is a matter of greater concern.

It is important to remember that Julian Assange’s extradition request to the US had previously been refused on the grounds that there were risks to his life.

It is also recalled that in the opinion of a United Nations Special Rapporteur, Julian Assange is arbitrarily imprisoned and “has been deliberately exposed, over a number of years, to progressively severe forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the effects of which cumulative effects can only be described as psychological torture’.

The same rapporteur expresses concern that in the United States of America, Julian Assange faces the real risk of serious violations of his rights, including freedom of expression, a fair trial, the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading.

Julian Assange’s case is linked to the disclosure of information considered confidential, in particular about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, which exposed violations of international law, some of which amounted to war crimes.

The attempt to extradite, criminalize and arrest Julian Assange represents an unacceptable pressure, aimed at conditioning the publication of information of public interest. An attempt that cannot be dissociated from the processes of concentration of ownership and control of the media by transnational corporations, together with the increase in the precariousness of journalists’ labor relations, which constitutes a serious threat to pluralism, freedom of the press , expression and information.

Therefore, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament appeal:

• To the British authorities, and in particular to Secretary of State Priti Patel, to refuse the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States of America;

• The Administration of the United States of America to close the charges against Julian Assange;

• To the immediate release of Julian Assage;

João PIMENTA LOPES
Sandra PEREIRA
Kateřina KONEČNÁ
Luke Ming FLANAGAN
Sira REGO
Mick WALLACE
Özlem DEMIREL
Stelios KOULOGLOU
Marisa MATIAS
Rosa D’AMATO
José GUSMÃO
Tatjana ŽDANOKA
Giorgos GEORGIOU
Saskia BRICMONT
Milan BRGLEZ
Maria ARENA
Patrick BREYER
Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ
Manu PINEDA
Dino GIARRUSSO
Pernando BARRENA ARZA
Eleonora EVI
Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ
Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES
Clara PONSATÍ OBIOLS
Martin BUSCHMANN
Martin SONNEBORN
Niyazi KIZILYÜREK
Isabel SANTOS
Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD
Anne-Sophie PELLETIER
Emmanuel MAUREL
Dietmar KÖSTER
Mikuláš PEKSA
Karen MELCHIOR
Ignazio CORRAO
Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP
Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ
Konstantinos ARVANITIS
Pierre LARROUTUROU
Eva KAILI
Marc BOTENGA
Miguel URBÁN CRESPO
Helmut SCHOLZ
Anja HAZEKAMP
Eleonora FORENZA (Ex Deputada do PE)

Originally published on pcp.pt.

12 May 2022, Brussels