UK Ignores Council Of Europe's Call for Assange Inquiry

Ignoring the Council of Europe's Call

The United Kingdom's Home Office has been accused of making a "grave mistake" by disregarding a request from the Council of Europe to reassess its handling of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. This warning comes from Assange's wife. Earlier this month, the council’s parliamentary assembly, which includes the UK as a member, passed a resolution labeling Assange as a "political prisoner". Assange spent five years in London's Belmarsh maximum security prison before being released in June and returning to his home country of Australia. The UK government had detained him while the U.S. was seeking his extradition through the British courts.

Outrage from the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe, established in the aftermath of World War II with strong support from Winston Churchill, has expressed its outrage over Assange's treatment. The council's resolution called on the U.K. authorities to conduct a review to determine whether Assange had been subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in accordance with their international obligations. The council found that the U.K. authorities had failed to adequately protect Assange's freedom of expression and right to liberty, resulting in his prolonged detention in a high-security prison, despite the political nature of the most severe charges against him.

UK's Response to the Council of Europe's Call

When asked about its response to the Council of Europe’s call, the UK’s Home Office deflected the question, stating that the longstanding extradition request for Julian Assange has been resolved. They added that all extradition requests are considered on an individual basis by independent courts and in accordance with U.K. law. Although the demands of the parliamentary assembly are not binding on European governments, they are obligated to respond.

Accusations of a 'Cover-Up'

Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, accused the Home Office of making a “grave mistake” in refusing to heed the Council of Europe’s call. She claimed that the Crown Prosecution Service has disappeared key documents related to Julian’s imprisonment and refused to provide information that might shed light on the political aspect of Julian’s persecution in the U.K. She further accused the U.K. government of partaking in the cover-up, behaving in a manner that only a guilty party would.

Allegations of 'Psychological Torture'

The Council of Europe’s resolution found Assange’s detention in Belmarsh to be disproportionate in relation to his alleged offence. It cited the findings of Nils Melzer, the then United Nations special rapporteur on torture, who stated that Assange had been subjected to increasingly severe forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, amounting to psychological torture. Melzer's report, produced in 2019 while Assange was in asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, called for an investigation into possible “criminal conduct” by U.K. officials in their treatment of Assange. This report was never reported in the U.K. national media. The Council of Europe concluded that the U.K. authorities appear to have ignored Melzer’s findings.

'Chilling Effect'

The Council of Europe stated that the treatment of Assange has created a dangerous chilling effect and a climate of self-censorship affecting all journalists, publishers and others reporting matters essential for the functioning of a democratic society. It severely undermines the role of the press and the protection of journalists and whistle-blowers around the world. The council also expressed alarm at reports that the US Central Intelligence Agency had covertly surveyed Assange while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and was allegedly developing plans to poison or even assassinate him on U.K. soil.

Reactions from Reporters Without Borders

Rebecca Vincent, campaigns director at Reporters Without Borders, stated that Julian Assange’s sentencing by U.K. courts to 50 weeks in prison for breaking bail was “disproportionate”. She added that his subsequent prolonged detention in a high-security prison with no charges against him in the U.K., held purely on remand, constituted a gross violation of his rights.

Bottom Line

The UK's refusal to heed the Council of Europe's call for an inquiry into its treatment of Julian Assange raises questions about the country's commitment to freedom of expression and the rights of journalists. What are your thoughts on this issue? Share this article with your friends and let them know about this situation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.