Assange lawyer speaks in Australian parliament Archived Message Posted by margo on July 31, 2019, 12:41 pm As reported by Flick Ruby @FlickRubicon - a PhD candidate at Sydney University: From Twitter today: Flick Ruby @FlickRubicon ·8h Jen Robinson @suigenerisjen is in Australian Parliament House this morning, briefing on the complex legal situation of Julian Assange - being warmly welcomed by co-sponsors Susan Templeman MP and Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. Jen Robinson has been working with #Assange since 2010 and is briefing parliamentarians, breaking down some of the key legal issues involved. Her purpose in being here today is to bring people up to speed and to highlight what Australians need to know about his case The very outcome we had warned about for more than 9 years, occurred the very day he was removed from the Ecuadorian, the US requested Julian's extradition for the 2010 publications, done in partnership with many media orgs, The Guardian, Der Spiegel etc. An important point to emphasise is that no one was harmed as a result of these publications. Another is that if you read the indictment, it covers routine journalistic practices. Alan Rusbridger, former editor of the Guardian who acknowledges Julian as a journalist, recently debated Jen in London, and during the course of the evening described Julian's work as ’the kind of activity that honourable journalists do all the time.’ Julian revolutionised journalism and has won more awards for that journalism than many of his peers, and has changed how we understand our world. And for this #Assange faces 175 years in jail. This case isn’t about one journalist only. The United States is seeking to extend its jurisdiction across borders to prosecute those receiving and publishing truthful information about the United States. This concerns all journalists and publishers. The United Nations has been engaged in Julian’s case for some years now. On 5 February 2016, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD), the supreme international body scrutinising this issue, found Julian Assange to be arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the UK. The Working Group calling for the detention to be brought to an end and that he be afforded the right to compensation. The UN Working Group repeated the demand in December 2018 that the UK abide by its international obligations and allow him to walk free of the Embassy. Julian was forced to choose between his right to asylum or his right to health while in the Embassy. His health has seriously deteriorated. His health has been permanently impacted from his time in the Embassy. He is now in the Belmarsh health wing. This case, involving an Australian citizen, is a grave threat to press freedom and journalists globally. We should not be silent. It is time that Australia takes a more proactive role in raising questions with the US. It is within the rights of the Australian government to make representations to the British government regarding diplomatic protection of a citizen, and to ask the British government to not extradite Julian to the United States. The extradition process could take years. Julian is experiencing punishment by process. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture concluded that Julian has been subjected to psychological torture and questioned his prospect of a fair trial in the US. The conditions in Belmarsh are fundamentally impacting the legal team's ability to defending him. Austerity cuts in the UK create these conditions, he is not being singled out, but it's very difficult for Jennifer Robinson @suigenerisjen) to engage with her client. Former Senator Scott Ludlam @Scottludlam thanks @suigenerisjen for her clarifying briefing. 'The cross party representation here tells us that there is concern from across the political spectrum. This is not a regular consular matter. It's about a citizen in jail for publishing. If the worst comes to pass, every parliamentarian and party will be facing the question - what have you done? Let's have something to tell them, concludes @Scottludlam Message Thread: Assange lawyer speaks in Australian parliament - margo July 31, 2019, 12:41 pm A victory for Wikileaks - motion to dismiss for Wikileaks in DNC lawsuit - margo July 31, 2019, 2:45 pm Re: A victory for Wikileaks - motion to dismiss for Wikileaks in DNC lawsuit - margo July 31, 2019, 3:15 pm Julian Assange petition passes 165,000 - Tomski August 1, 2019, 11:48 am Pompeo and other top US officials visit Australia next week - margo August 1, 2019, 2:12 pm 'The Australian' reckons the PM is NOT going to raise the issue with Pompeo - margo August 1, 2019, 2:26 pm   Searching