News broke today that Julian Assange won yet another award for his courage and speaking out for the rights of others. The Catalan Dignity Commission honored him with its 2019 Dignity Prize for raising awareness of the victimization of Catalans in October of 2017. Julian Assange is still being held in remand in the UK at Belmarsh prison awaiting his extradition trial to the United States. Under lock and key and held in solitary confinement 23 hours a day, doctors continue to raise their concens over Assange’s deteriorating health.
The psychological stress caused by torturous conditions and fear of extradition have further deteriorated Julian’s well being. There were already health issues after 7 years of being detained in London’s Ecuadorian embassy. Incarceration has only exasperated the process of his disintegrating health.
Concerns were raised as early as May by UN special rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, that Julian had all the symptoms of a prolonged torture victim. According to the Nelson Mandela Act, any solitary confinement over 15 days is considered torture. Assange has spent well over 200 days locked up in complete isolation without any meaningful human contact.
According to Better health, link seen here:
People who have been tortured can have a range of symptoms, including:
- Headaches
- Shaking or trembling muscles
- Hearing loss
- Vision problems
- Sleeping problems
- Anxiety attacks
- Nervousness
- Irritability
- Sexual problems
- Depression
- Aggression
- Suicidal thoughts
Wikipedia states the following here:
Solitary confinement has been reported to cause hypertension, headaches and migraines, profuse sweating, dizziness, and heart palpitations. Many inmates also experience extreme weight loss due to digestion complications and abdominal pain. Many of these symptoms are due to the intense anxiety and sensory deprivation.
Studies have shown higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and an inability to have healthy relationships afterwards. It is a proven fact that lonely people are more prone to certain physical ailments including high blood pressure, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and are more prone to infection. Mentally it has been reported to play with your sense of time, cause hallucinations, and paranoia. Many completely isolated individuals who had no meaningful human contact lost track of reality all together as studies have shown.
Imagine living your life in a box the size of a parking space. You eat there, sleep there, exercise there and defecate there. Some have no windows in their cells. There is a reason that prisoners call it being put in “the hole.”
Recently news.com.au released this:
Last year more than 100 doctors from around the world put the Morrison government on notice that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s health is deteriorating so rapidly, he might die in jail.
The doctors are concerned that the psychological stress he has been under – which is akin to psychological torture is manifesting in physical ailments and he could suffer a stroke, cardiac arrest or other fatal health problem at any time.
Simply put, Assange’solitary confinement is pure evil, cruel and unethical not to mention illegal. Yet the U.K. claims they are doing it to protect him. If that is protection, I would prefer to take my chances. Outside exercise takes place in a cage with nothing but cement underfoot. Visits are limited to 2 per week, a half hour each and any touching is most likely prohibited.
Julian Assange is dying in prison. Ultimately, he will suffer long term effects from the torture he is receiving. A true hero is being slowly annihilated.
Rise up. Stand up. Fight this.
Angel Fox Media 