Mexico City. Julian Assange’s defense was a defense of press freedom, warning protesters against the UK Home Office’s decision to extradite the journalist and WikiLeaks founder to the United States.
“Julian is in dire need of medical attention, and has also been denied. He didn’t see his lawyer often; he was completely helpless.
“He was a political prisoner; We cannot let him be silenced, silenced before our eyes. We are witnessing the slow killing of the lives of innocent beings,” said Edith Cabrera of the “#24F Julian Assange Life and Liberty Coalition.”
A group of people demonstrated at noon this Saturday outside the British embassy in Mexico located on the Paseo de la Reforma, a few steps from the Angel of Independence and also very close to the US embassy, where they then proceeded with the protest.
They wore yellow vests and banners that read: “Julian Assange, heroic humanist journalist. Revolutionary Journalism, hero of truth. Mexico is always with you. Not for extradition. Justice, set Julian free.”
Edith Cabrera pointed out that Britain’s decision was upsetting but not surprising, as all of its decisions were in favor of the United States.
“This is a direct and frontal attack on press freedom, on democracy and against each of us. We are on the brink of the right to expression,” he said.
—Why should Mexico and us Mexicans care about this case?
—Because freedom of expression is a human right, it is a right that knows no boundaries and we are all involved. As we said: Julián’s freedom is the freedom of the press, and Julián’s freedom is our freedom. We must not allow this attack by totalitarian governments that call themselves democratic.
Assange, who has been in prison since 2019, when he was released from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, has 14 days to appeal the decision approved by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Washington claimed him and accused him of leaking documents in 2010 and 2011 and violating the Espionage Act by disclosing files related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, among many others.
Assange has always maintained that this is a document of public interest.
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