MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) on Thursday called on the UK authorities to observe such principles as human rights and freedom of expression when dealing with the case of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was arrested earlier in the day.
The UK police detained Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had been residing since 2012 as a political refugee, fearing extradition, after Ecuador had withdrawn asylum that it had earlier granted to Assange. The arrest was made on behalf of the US authorities, wanting Assange jailed for the release of classified information. A UK court ruled that Assange should remain in custody, with the next hearing scheduled for May 2.
"The ECPMF joins Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in calling for the United Kingdom to observe human rights and freedom of expression in its treatment of Assange. His contributions through WikiLeaks, used by outlets around the world for journalistic reporting, should be taken into account, as well as the necessity to protect sources. Harsh punishment against Assange could pose a danger to press freedom by deterring whistleblowers from denouncing abusive practices by those in power," the ECPMF said in a statement.
The RSF called on the UK government earlier in the day to abstain from extraditing Assange to the United States and to "prioritize the principles of freedom of expression and protection of the role of journalism."
Assange gained fame after WikiLeaks published a huge trove of leaked files, including those referring to US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and conditions in US-run Guantanamo detention camp.
