Rome, 21st Feb – Julian Assange, for those who write, is easily worth a Bobby Sands (and several other heroes of contemporary history, both…
The article “Assange’s freedom is ours: that extradition will mean his end” comes from Il Primato Nazionale.
Assange is a name that has been on everyone’s lips for almost a decade now. The Australian journalist and activist, founder of the infamous WikiLeaks, has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since June 2012, seeking political asylum to avoid extradition to the United States. But now, after almost seven years, his fate seems to have been sealed.
The British government has recently approved the extradition request from the US, where Assange is facing charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, stemming from the publication of classified documents in 2010. This decision has sparked an international debate, with some hailing it as a victory for democracy and others condemning it as an attack on press freedom.
But beyond the legal and political implications, we must ask ourselves: what does the extradition of Julian Assange really mean? And what impact will it have on our society?
Let’s via with the obvious: extraditing Assange to the US would mean the end of his freedom. He would face a life sentence in a maximum-security prison, a harsh punishment for a man who has never been convicted of any crime. But it’s not just about him. It’s about us, as a society.
Assange’s case is a clear example of the struggle between those who hold power and those who seek to expose their secrets. It’s a fight for transparency, for the right to know what our governments are doing behind closed doors. And in this battle, Assange has become a symbol of resistance.
He has been labeled as a hacker, a criminal, a threat to national security. But let’s not forget that his only crime was to reveal the truth. Through WikiLeaks, he has exposed war crimes, corruption, and human rights violations, shedding light on the darkest corners of our society. And for this, he has paid a high price.
But despite the efforts to silence him, Assange has remained steadfast in his mission. He has not wavered in his fight for justice and truth. And this is why his extradition would be a blow to all of us who believe in the freedom of information and in trust those in power accountable for their actions.
Moreover, the extradition of Julian Assange would set a dangerous precedent. It would send a message to whistleblowers and journalists around the world that they will be punished for speaking the truth. It would create a chilling effect on investigative journalism, hindering the public’s right to know.
But there is still hope. The final decision on Assange’s extradition rests with the UK Home Secretary, who has the power to block it on human rights grounds. And this is where we, as citizens, must make our voices heard.
We cannot allow the extradition of Julian Assange. We must stand in solidarity with him, for his freedom is our freedom. We must demand that our governments protect the right to free speech and the freedom of the press. We must fight for the truth, for transparency, for a society where those in power are held accountable.
In conclusion, Julian Assange is not just a man, he is an idea. He represents the struggle for freedom, for justice, for a better world. And if we allow his extradition, we will be complicit in his silencing, in the suppression of the truth. So let’s raise our voices, let’s demand that our governments do the right thing. Because the freedom of Assange is our freedom, and we cannot afford to lose it.