Letter to Court Magistrate Vanessa Baraitser Regarding the Extradition and Torture of Julian Assange

Julian Assange is in great jeopardy and it appears that you may be the only one who can help him. He is being threatened by extradition to the U.S. with the possibility of the death penalty or life in prison under the antiquated Espionage Act of 1917. The threat of torture and mistreatment is very real. He does not stand a chance of getting any justice in the U.S. court systems. It is apparent that you intend to play the game the U.S. has set out and there will be no justice in your court either. Do you really want to be remembered as the judge who sentenced Assange to death?

Nils Melszer, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture, has stated his continued isolation in Belmarsh may end with his death. The silent assassination of the greatest journalist of our time is being watched by the world and so far, you have done nothing but furthered that which is destroying this man.

Julian Assange is a publisher, a journalist and a hero. By allowing the prosecution against Assange to continue, it is a direct violation of your oath to seek and find justice in this case.

The relentless attacks on Assange and Wikileaks threatens the future of a free press that is the bulwark of democracy. It is a threat to our very freedom.

Assange was held without charge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for nearly 7 years without fresh air, sunlight, proper exercise or proper medical care against 2 UN rulings to release him. All the while, not a shred of evidence has ever been found that he has done anything but publish the truth. He is relentlessly attacked by those who fear the truth will put them in jeopardy of prosecution themselves. This case is a political disgrace to scare other would be truthtellers from publishing war crimes around the world.it is an example of a superpower seeking to destroy our human rights as individuals and exert its power over other states.

This is an injustice not just against this man, but all humanity. It sets a legal precedent to prosecute any journalist who exposes truth. It also is against the human rights of political refugees who seek protection. It sets an example of how criminals get away with corruption and whistleblowers get prosecuted. It is an act of injustice by the United States against all of us.

We urge you to take action. By dropping this case, and ending the possibility of extradition, you can end this travesty of justice.

Signed,