KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
The United Kingdom and Sweden must end the detention of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, a United Nations panel has ruled. Not only must both governments allow him to walk from his asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, but they must respect his right to free movement and liberty and even provide him with monetary compensation for the past few years.
In 2012 Julian Assange faced extradition to Sweden on as part of a sexual assault and rape investigation, which he claimed were false and designed to allow him to be extradited again to the United States to face charges related to the leaking of documents through Wikileaks. So he sought asylum within the Ecuadorian embassy and has been there ever since.
Source: Cancillería del Ecuador/Flickr
The UN panel initially ruled that Assange was arbitrarily detained earlier this year, but the UK government appealed it. Having now confirmed its decision, the United Nations will expect the British government to allow Assange to walk free, without fear of arrest. It will also expect Sweden to drop the charges against him.
While the UN resolution isn't binding, it would be difficult for the UK to ignore its recommendations, but in the future request its support in enforcing human rights law elsewhere in the world. It would also weaken the perceived influence of the United Nations when it comes to making rulings elsewhere. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcw3SKVRUbM']
“Now that all appeals are exhausted I expect that the UK and Sweden will comply with their international obligations and set me free,” Assange said in a statement. “It is an obvious and grotesque injustice to detain someone for six years who hasn’t even been charged with an offence.”
Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru Says: This should be an interesting test of how isolationist the UK is trying to become. Will it let him free? How will it respond once he's able to wander around?
This article is full of contradictions.
“So he sought asylum within the Ecuadorian embassy and has been there ever since.”
“It is an obvious and grotesque injustice to detain someone for six years who hasn’t even been charged with an offence.”
Seeking asylum to escape being arrested is not the same as “being detained” it was self imposed by Assange he could have left the embassy of his own free will at anytime.
how the hell does the UN think they can tell a country they have to drop charges against the guy? is this the UN ok’ing rape now?
Do you know nothing about the case?
There was never a claim of rape by the victim its was pressured by the US
If hes truly innocent and deserves to be freed, he should face the courts and make his defense heard loud and clear. Hes an idiot pursuing greatness by sabotaging the UK and US.
The panel is concerned with freeing a rapist while ignoring important issues like justice for suffering people in Haiti who were poisoned by the selfsame UN. F’ck them!
Hes not concerned about the rape case its the extradition to the USA for leaking information hes concern about
I’d like him to be freed (the comment calling him a rapist is factually incorrect as he hasn’t even been charged I understand) but the UN have no power. I can’t see how while yet a member of EU the UK can ignore a European arrest warrant. Julian is also wanted in UK for breaking house arrest. So while I’m sorry for him some UN committee has no power to free him.
You guys this is dated in february. 🙁
there are no contradictions, you just dont understand the situation at all.
1. there is no reason the trail for rape could not have proceeded while he was in he Ecuadorian Embassy.
2. every effort was made by the USA and Sweden to prevent normal procedure, which would be take a statement from him and begin the trial while he remained in the embassy
3. Assange has said he is more than willing to stand trial for the rape case. Sweden and the USA have actually been the ones preventing this
4. the USA are doing this because they want to force him to go to Sweden, where he can be extradited back to USA
5.if he was extradited to the United States, he would be tortured among other thing, and he would certainly not receive a fair trial
so to correct your comment, there is no question that he has been detained arbitrarily
he should have been allowed to face trial while he remained in the Ecuadorian embassy. plus if you know anything about the case, there is no evidence against him and he will almost certainly not be charged. so once you have all the facts about this you cant pretend like Assange could have just left the embassy of his own free will, thats just not true
LOL! Jesus Christ that’s brilliant, good job KG
I can almost hear the click and clatter of the sniper teams prepping their gear as he folds his socks and jocks into his suit case, ready to walk out of the embassy a free man
No one has seen or heard from him since his last meeting on the balcony of the Embassy. I believe that was in October. If anyone has information on his well being please post. Thank you.