For Julian Assange things are getting tighter: A British highest judge has ruled that Assange can be extradited to the USA – if the Americans treat him humanely. But the requirements are very specific: He may not be taken to a certain high-security prison – but there are dozens of others. He must not be treated like the 50 worst criminals – but 80,000 people are in solitary confinement. Assange’s defense now has to file a counter appeal in the matter as quickly as possible – in order to at least preserve the chance to bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights in the end.
According to his fiancée, the Wikileaks founder is said to have suffered a minor stroke. According to the Mail on Sunday, it was a so-called transitory ischemic attack in which the blood supply to the brain is temporarily interrupted.
According to the weekly, Assange experienced a drooping right eyelid, memory loss and signs of neurological damage as the result. He was now taking medication, it was said. Moris told the paper she was afraid of another, more severe, stroke. The question arises as to whether his health is in a position to go through an extradition process.
According to the UN special rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, Assange has long been in extremely poor health. He fell asleep during a negotiation because the psychotropic drugs were bothering him.
Political interest in the fate of a man who uncovered war crimes was limited under the Merkel-Scholz government. While the case of the Russian opposition politician Alexej Navalny became a top priority and sparked serious tensions with Moscow, the Assange case was hushed up.
The new government would have the opportunity to do better here: Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock wants to promote human rights and pursue a value-based foreign policy. The FDP had stated at least before the election that it wanted to stand up for human and civil rights without reservation. The Assange case will determine the credibility of these commitments. (with AFP)