Julian Assange too sick for extradition hearing
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has opened up about the grim reality of life inside Belmarsh Prison, describing himself as ‘defenceless’.
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has opened up about life inside Belmarsh Prison, saying he has been ‘isolated from all ability to defend myself’.
Assange reportedly wrote the letter three weeks ago to supporter Gordon Dimmack, who read it outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London.
In the letter, Assange wrote that he was “defenceless and counting on you and others of good character to save my life”.
“I am unbroken albeit literally surrounded by murderers but the days where I could read and speak and organise to defend myself and my ideals and my people are over until I am free.”
He added that he had “no internet, ever, no computer, no library so far, but even if I do get access it would just be for half an hour with everyone else”.
Assange said “all calls except lawyers are recorded, and calls are maximum ten minutes and in a limited 30 minute window each day”.
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Meantime, Assange may have his next hearing inside Belmarsh prison, a court heard yesterday.
Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said in a brief hearing that the next date could be slated for Assange’s jail.
Some members of the public may also be allowed in.
“The next date is June 12, potentially in Belmarsh, but it may be a day either side,” she said.
Assange was not present for tonight’s hearing, where he was represented by human rights lawyer Gareth Peirce.
Judge Arbuthnot noted that Assange was not well.
Ms Peirce will also make an application on behalf of Assange, which could be heard about the same time.
Edward Martin, for the prosecution, did not oppose the scheduled dates.
The hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court was related to a United States extradition bid that carries a 175-year jail sentence.
The United States claim has been increased to a total of 18 charges.
But Assange’s supporters have been complaining about a Swedish hearing on Monday, where prosecutors there will seek to detain him in his absence.
They want to extradite him to answer a rape allegation.
Assange has been moved to the health ward at London’s maximum security Belmarsh prison.
WikiLeaks said in a statement that he had “dramatically lost weight” ahead of his London court appearance.
“WikiLeaks has grave concerns about the state of health of our publisher Julian Assange who has been moved to the health ward of Belmarsh prison,” a statement said.
“During the seven weeks in Belmarsh his health has continued to deteriorate.”
The US indictment claimed that Assange had put lives at risk when he published tens of thousands of classified government documents.
Some of those documents included the names of local people who had helped the US in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He has been charged under the Espionage Act and for computer hacking.
The WikiLeaks founder’s illness was the latest delay in the Swedish case that was first flagged in 2011.
He fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, because he claimed he feared he would be handed over to the United States.
Assange did not leave the London-based embassy until last month when he was arrested at the invitation of the Ecuadorean government.
He was sentenced to 50 weeks jail for breaching bail at London’s Southwark Crown Court this month.
Judge Deborah Taylor said in sentencing remarks that Assange’s stay in the embassy had delayed the Swedish case and frustrated its investigators.
The rape investigation was reopened this month at the request of the alleged victim.
Sweden’s deputy director of prosecutions Eva-Marie Persson said when reopening the case that it would be easier to pursue since Assange had left the embassy.
She said a European arrest warrant would be issued.
Assange is unlikely to leave Belmarsh prison when his 50-week sentence is finished.
It is understood his lawyers expect he will be detained while either one or both of the extradition claims are pursued.
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