Julian Assange’s father says his son may not be released from prison after revealing criminal acts perpetrated by the US.
Australian journalist Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks platform, which unveiled, among others, crimes committed by the United States (USA), is increasingly at risk of dying in jail, his father, John Shipton warned.
“Julian can die in jail after a 9-year persecution for revealing the truth of war crimes (in the US),” Shipton told reporters in London on Friday.
He said that this is the “bitter truth” after hearing the testimony of a United Nations (UN) rapporteur who visited Assange a few days ago in Belmarsh prison, southeast London, where he has been since last April, and who said that the life of the activist is in danger.
The UN special rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, said that Assange is suffering from an “inhuman situation” in Belmarsh, where he hopes the British justice will decide whether or not to request an extradition made by the United States, to respond to the alleged crime of conspiracy, among other charges.
On October 26, musician Roger Waters, founder of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd and known for his activism, said in an interview with RT that “they are clearly trying to kill Assange as much as they can.”
“Julian Assange is becoming a warning to other journalists that if they tell the truth -particularly to power-‘ we will catch them, “Waters said.
On Monday, October 21, Assange appeared at a London court hearing, and seemed confused, as it was hard to remember his name and age, according to a report by Reuters.
According to that testimony, the judge asked the activist at the end of the hearing if he was aware of what was happening and replied: “not exactly.”
Under normal circumstances, the Australian must have been released on bail after 50 weeks in prison and while his trial is taking place, but British justice chose to keep him in jail.
Judge Vanessa Baraitser, of the Court of Magistrates of the Westminster district of London, decided that Assange remains imprisoned due to his “history of evasion”, as there are “substantial indications” to fear that he can again evade the action of justice.
The founder of WikiLeaks will face an extradition hearing to the United States on February 25 for 17 counts of espionage and one of conspiracy, which can lead to a sentence of up to 175 years in prison.
