Today, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel sanctioned the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States where he will stand trial for 18 charges. If he is convicted, he could face a combined prison sentence of 175 years. As progressive media projects from across the world, we reject this atrocious assault on press freedom and once again raise our voices in solidarity with Julian Assange.
Assange’s crime was nothing more than revealing the truth about war crimes and other crimes against humanity committed by the United States government and its allies. His commitment to tell the truth despite the consequences, makes him one of the boldest and most daring journalists of our time.
We know that if Assange is extradited and convicted, it is not only his rights that are at stake, but the rights of journalists and publishers globally.
We, the undersigned media organizations, reject and denounce this attack on Julian Assange and journalism. Freedom of the press will remain a hollow phrase as long as Julian Assange and WikiLeaks continue to be hounded.
ARG Medios
Brasil de Fato
Breakthrough News
The Insight Newspaper
Madaar
New Frame
NewsClick
Pan African Television
Peoples Dispatch
