Julian Assange hits out at UK’s response to his ‘arbitrary detention’
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group’s findings on the “arbitrary detention” of Mr Assange as “frankly ridiculous” and said the Australian was “hiding from justice”.
He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being “arbitrarily detained” in the Ecuadorian embassy in London — and called for him to be paid compensation.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange’s “deprivation of liberty” and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement.
Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful.
He said comments by Mr Hammond were “beneath” the minister’s stature and insulting to the UN.
There had been intense interest in whether Mr Assange would leave the embassy, but it was clear he will remain inside the building as long as there is a threat of arrest.
He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he has always denied, and believes he will be taken to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited.
He told the news conference that the UN Working Group’s decision was legally binding, insisting there was no higher authority on whether detentions were lawful.
“It is insulting for the UN to call the decision ridiculous. Those comments were beneath the stature of a foreign minister.”
Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a “settled law”.
He continued: “The UK and Sweden had their opportunities to lodge appeals in the last two weeks. They did not lodge an appeal. You cannot take part in a process and then at the end of it come out with press statements saying you disagree.”
Comments such as those made by the Foreign Secretary were for “domestic consumption”.
Mr Assange said: “It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over.
“It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough.”
He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: “We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well.”
Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange’s legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy.
She called it a “damning indictment” of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. We need the UK to step up to the plate so Julian can finally come out into the light.”
Former UN judge Jeffery Robertson QC said Sweden must now withdraw the warrant for things to proceed.
He said: “He could stay in there unless the stalemate is broken.
“Hopefully this judgment will require Sweden and the United Kingdom to put their heads together to comply to it and that will lead to the cancellation of the arrest warrant.”
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