A group of 63 members of the Australian House of Representatives and Senate signed a letter to support Julian Assange and advocate against the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder to the United States.
The Guardian newspaper released the document at a time when an Australian delegation from different political parties plans to travel to Washington next week to advocate for Assange’s interests. According to the text, the US Government “must end” the process of prosecuting and imprisoning Australian citizens.
The signatories support the delegation’s trip and denounced that Assange’s case has continued for more than a decade, it being “a mistake” that the persecution of the Australian journalist continues and he is denied his freedom.
Australian lawmakers warned that if Julian Assange is transferred from the UK to the US, there will be a sharp and sustained outcry in Australia.
The deputies plan to meet with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice to advocate against the activist’s extradition to the United States.
In June 2022, the United Kingdom approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, where he is accused of publishing hundreds of thousands of pages of secret military documents and confidential diplomatic cables.
The US Justice Department presented a total of 18 charges against him under the Espionage Act, and requested 175 years in prison for him.
