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Pirate MEP on Assange judgement: Encourage whistleblowers, don't silence them!

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Commenting on the decision by the British High Court to allow Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's appeal against his imminent extradition to the US, Pirate Party Member of the European Parliament Patrick Breyer said:

"Today's court decision gives hope that European human rights and courts will protect the exposure of injustice, abuses of power, corruption and war crimes without applying double standards to friend and foe. I hope that instead of deterring whistleblowers and journalists worldwide, as intended by the USA, they will be encouraged by a landmark judgement at the end of proceedings.

“The fact that EU Commission President von der Leyen remains silent on the case is shameful, but indicative of the mother of chat control plans, who wants to keep her own official text messages with pharmaceutical companies secret. For me as a Pirate, transparency of government action is the indispensable basis of any democracy. Transparency must not be a crime!"

On Friday, 31 MEPs had sent a letter initiated by Breyer to the British Home Secretary calling for Julian Assange's release. The High Court ruling means he can make a fresh appeal against the order extraditing him to the United States to stand trial for leaking military secrets. He will be able to challenge American assurances that he would get a fair trial.

Julian Assange’s native Australia has asked US President Joe Biden to drop the prosecution and allow him to return home. President Biden has said that he is considering the request.

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