Assange extradition order to United States approved

  • 17 Jun 2022

The NUJ has expressed its gravest concern at Home Secretary Priti Patel’s decision to extradite Julian Assange.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said:

“Any journalist who is handed a classified US document, or is contacted by a whistleblower to expose criminality and wrongdoing will now fear that they too will be extradited, and put at risk of spending the rest of their lives in prison.

"Whatever one’s opinion of Julian Assange, he is being pursued for actions that are part of the daily work of any investigative journalist. Priti Patel had the opportunity to show humanity, and a respect for free expression. I regret that she has chosen not to. There are some legal avenues available to Assange that might yet prevent his extradition. I can only hope that they are successful”.

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