Video Assange suffering psychological torture, would face "show trial" in U.S. - U.N. expert

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Assange suffering psychological torture, would face "show trial" in U.S. - U.N. expert

By Stephanie Nebehay

 

 

GENEVA (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has suffered psychological torture from a defamation campaign and should not be extradited to the United States where he would face a "politicised show trial", a U.N. human rights investigator said on Friday.

 

Nils Melzer, the U.N. special rapporteur on torture who visited Assange in a high-security London prison on May 9 along with two medical experts, said that he found him agitated, under severe stress and unable to cope with his complex legal case.

 

"Our finding was that Mr. Assange shows all the symptoms of a person who has been exposed to psychological torture for a prolonged period of time. The psychiatrist who accompanied my mission said that his state of health was critical," Melzer told Reuters in an interview in Geneva.

 

"But my understanding is that he has now been hospitalised and that he is not able to stand trial," he said.

 

Assange was too ill on Thursday to appear via video link from a British prison in a hearing on an extradition request from the United States, his lawyer Gareth Peirce told Reuters. He is in a health ward.

 

"Mr. Assange has been deliberately exposed, for a period of several years, to progressively severe forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the cumulative effects of which can only be described as psychological torture," Melzer said in a statement.

 

 

The Swiss law professor declined to identify judges or senior politicians whom he accused of defaming Assange, saying "dozens if not hundreds of individuals" had expressed themselves inappropriately.

 

"Here we are not speaking of prosecution but of persecution. That means that judicial power, institutions and proceedings are being deliberately abused for ulterior motives," he added.

 

British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt, in a tweet posted within minutes of Melzer's statement, said: "This is wrong.Assange chose to hide in the embassy and was always free to leave and face justice.

 

"The UN Special Rapporteur should allow British courts to make their judgements without his interference or inflammatory accusations," he said.

 

"POLITICISED SHOW TRIAL"

 

Assange made headlines in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

 

Washington is seeking the extradition of Assange, who was dragged from the Ecuadorean embassy in London on April 11 after his seven-year asylum was revoked, for one of the biggest ever leaks of classified information.

 

The Australian, now 47, had skipped bail and taken refuge there in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault investigation later dropped. Sweden reopened the investigation in early May. Assange denies the rape allegation.

 

The United States has charged Assange with espionage, saying he unlawfully published the names of classified sources and conspired with and assisted ex-Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in obtaining access to classified information. He faces 18 U.S. criminal counts and decades in prison if convicted.

 

"I am seriously, gravely concerned that if this man were to be extradited to the United States, he would be exposed to a politicised show trial and grave violations of his human rights," Melzer said.

 

"The main narrative in this affair really is the United States wanting to make an example of Mr. Assange in order to deter other people from following his example," he said.

 

Melzer did not expect U.S. authorities to subject Assange to physical torture such as water-boarding during interrogations.

 

"I would much more expect him to be subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, to very harsh detention conditions and to a psychological environment which would break him eventually."

 

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Ros Russell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-20

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[utalkin2me]

Assange's life is completely over, and then some.

 

I always wonder, what repercussions did the US suffer from the exposed murders of innocents, cover ups and other war crimes? Why do they even need to cover up war death statistics? Oh, so they can be assured they can keep fighting their profit driven wars. Ok, great reason. 

[Chomper Higgot]

Assange was not 'dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy', he was lawfully removed after overstaying his welcome. 

 

Jeremy Hunt is entirely correct.

 

Leave this to the courts. 

[bluesofa]

24 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has suffered psychological torture from a defamation campaign and should not be extradited to the United States where he would face a "politicised show trial", a U.N. human rights investigator said on Friday

Isn't that all self-inflicted 'psychological torture'?

[Basil B]

Not surprised that rat is trying to fake an illness...

 

they have a name for it: Munchausen syndrome

[WayWokeWhiteGuy]

Assange is a hero, not a criminal. He should be freed and given asylum and a platform in a country with a real free press.

[bendejo]

I have the impression Juli may be pardoned by DT for his help in getting him installed.  Isn't that what the Roger Stone connection is all about?

I that case I'd think it was in his interest to get to the US before DT is out of office.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

9 minutes ago, bendejo said:

I have the impression Juli may be pardoned by DT for his help in getting him installed.  Isn't that what the Roger Stone connection is all about?

I that case I'd think it was in his interest to get to the US before DT is out of office.

 

 

I can't see any benefit for Trump to pardon Assange for the US charges he is currently facing, they none of them relate to the Russian interference in favor of Trump during the 2016 election.

 

There are however some open questions regarding the very latest indictment added to the US extradition  request. A cynic might suspect the scope of the indictment has been constructed so as to reduce the chances of a successful indictment. 

 

That aside, it looks like Assange will head to Sweden first and that the indictment against Assange wrt to the Russian interference in the US election is being held back. We know this indictment exists because it was leaked by Stone's lawyers in a poorly redacted court filing. 

 

Will Trump offer Assange a pardon, I suspect he might make an offer, but such a high profile pardon to someone so closely linked to the accusations against Trump would come at a political cost. 

 

My bet, Trump will save his pardons for himself and his immediate family. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

27 minutes ago, WayWokeWhiteGuy said:

Assange is a hero, not a criminal. He should be freed and given asylum and a platform in a country with a real free press.

Odd how he chose Ecuador, given that country's appalling record of suppression of the press and persecution of journalists. 

[wayned]

33 minutes ago, Basil B said:

Not surprised that rat is trying to fake an illness...

 

they have a name for it: Munchausen syndrome

He should try :bone spurs", it worked for Trump!

[Solinvictus]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Assange was not 'dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy', he was lawfully removed after overstaying his welcome. 

 

Jeremy Hunt is entirely correct.

 

Leave this to the courts. 

"Leave this to the courts."

 

Tell that to the journalists and unarmed civilians shot...

 

I find it incredible how people believe in the courts so much as to praise them against someone who does good. That's right..good! Disagree? How so?

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

Not surprised that rat is trying to fake an illness...

 

they have a name for it: Munchausen syndrome

"Rat"

 

You just referred to a man at the head of an organization that has never put out false or discredited publications but even more important is that he shed light on the misdoings of not only the military but some of the biggest and wealthiest rats of all, that are in government across the globe...

 

 

Come on now.. you establishment lackeys need to wise up..this hurts you too.

[Basil B]

2 minutes ago, Solinvictus said:

"Rat"

And I thought I was being polite...????

[Puccini]

I am suffering psychological torture just having to read about Assange all the time.

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

A cynic might suspect the scope of the indictment has been constructed so as to reduce the chances of a successful indictment. 

Certainly with an additional 17 charges it raises the possibility of successful conviction as each charge will be adjudicated. Any charges that result in a "hung jury" can be retried, further adding to the odds of conviction.

But the fact is that the additional U.S. charges were revealed because of the time limit imposed by the British-American 2003 extradition treaty. Once the U.S. Justice Department begins its formal extradition request, it has 60 days to add any further charges to its extradition request.

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, utalkin2me said:

Assange's life is completely over, and then some.

 

I always wonder, what repercussions did the US suffer from the exposed murders of innocents, cover ups and other war crimes? Why do they even need to cover up war death statistics? Oh, so they can be assured they can keep fighting their profit driven wars. Ok, great reason. 

 

I suspect it was his cause of severe embarrassment to Hilary and her muppets - which is far from over that is the real driver. Can't have people like this causing problems for the elite political classes and spoiling their succession planning.

[simtemple]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Assange was not 'dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy', he was lawfully removed after overstaying his welcome. 

 

 

 

Leave this to the courts. 

Open your eyes! He was deliberately dragged from the Embassy by state security goons, in what can only be described as a status degradation ceremony. Moreover, the UN has ruled that the fascist Government of Britain has deliberately ignored UN conventions and breached Julian Assange's human rights. His treatment by the British security state has been disgusting.  

 

 

[Whip]

I smell a rat, excuse me, a lawyer behind this

[madmen]

2 minutes ago, simtemple said:

Open your eyes! He was deliberately dragged from the Embassy by state security goons, in what can only be described as a status degradation ceremony. Moreover, the UN has ruled that the fascist Government of Britain has deliberately ignored UN conventions and breached Julian Assange's human rights. His treatment by the British security state has been disgusting.  

 

 

He was dragged cause he didnt want to leave. How else would they take him in.

[mamypoko]

U.S. wants you jailed. FSB needs you dead. Don't turn to religion, it's just too cliche

[Tropposurfer]

How dare Assange and his staff disseminate embarrassing and true information about world powers and government behaviour ????

[Krataiboy]

3 hours ago, Basil B said:

Not surprised that rat is trying to fake an illness...

 

they have a name for it: Munchausen syndrome

The rats are those media scum on papers like the Guardian who cashed in shamelessly on his revelations and are now rubbishing the man.

 

The rest of his detractors are mice.

[Chomper Higgot]

30 minutes ago, simtemple said:

Open your eyes! He was deliberately dragged from the Embassy by state security goons, in what can only be described as a status degradation ceremony. Moreover, the UN has ruled that the fascist Government of Britain has deliberately ignored UN conventions and breached Julian Assange's human rights. His treatment by the British security state has been disgusting.  

 

 

If you want to make an argument regarding his removal from the embassy, remove the following  hyperbole/unsubstantiated hogwash::

 

"Dragged" he was not dragged he was lawfully removed in full view of the world's media after his asylum was rescinded as a direct result of his own behaviour. 

'State Security Goons'. Known to the rest of us a police officers. 

'Status Degradation Ceremony'. Hogwash.

'UN has ruled'. No the UN has not ruled.

'Fascist Government of Britain'. More Hogwash.

'Deliberately Ignored UN Conventions'. Name those conventions and the specific clauses that have been breached. Then prove that the breaches you claim are deliberate.

'Julian Assange's Human Rights'. He's detained in compliance with a court order that is under UK and European Rights Law. And I understand he is receiving the medical and dental care, he is being well cared for.

'British Security State' Even more hogwash. 

 

I conclude  from the above you are doing your level best to win people over to your point of view. 

 

 

[Pilotman]

3 hours ago, Basil B said:

Not surprised that rat is trying to fake an illness...

 

they have a name for it: Munchausen syndrome

It gets better and better, No sympathy for this man at all. His actions have probably resulted in any number of deaths of those who serve to protect. The best bit is yet to come,  when he gets jailed for 25 years. 

[toenail]

What about the “psychological torture “ he created to others when endangering  more than CIA officials? 

[SpaceKadet]

28 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

It gets better and better, No sympathy for this man at all. His actions have probably resulted in any number of deaths of those who serve to protect. The best bit is yet to come,  when he gets jailed for 25 years. 

Serve and protect whom? Certainly not the innocent civilians and journalists...

[Pilotman]

8 minutes ago, SpaceKadet said:

Serve and protect whom? Certainly not the innocent civilians and journalists...

Give me a break, you know the answer already. 

[Morch]

Got to wonder how many people in prison get visits by Mr. Melzer (plus two medical experts). That is, people who face actual torture, or been subjected to such. My experiences (as a visitor, not an inmate) with prisons and prisoners informs me that being "agitated, under sever stress and unable to cope with... complex legal case" is a rather common description.

 

Assange created the reality he lived in for in recent years. He's also the one responsible for kicking the bucket with regard to his stay at the Ecuadorian embassy. Saying that he's unable  to cope with his complex legal case is a joke, and not a particularly good one.

 

Also suspect how a whole lot of dire labels are tossed about regarding supposed torture and (mental) health issues, but not much by way of actually explaining what is referenced. There are assertions by Melzer as to what Assange might face under USA jurisdiction - but obviously, not something that's on right now.

 

Got to love how many high profilers suddenly develop severe health issues whenever legal cases are brought to bear.

 

[tokachinter]

Despite the attempted character assassination by a couple of posters here, I am confident that history will judge Julian Assange as a hero whose actions as a publisher and a human were outstanding. Those doubting me could perhaps read up on what Wikileaks has and has not published over the years and the background details on the two alleged rape cases in Sweden.

[SpaceKadet]

... "I am seriously, gravely concerned that if this man were to be extradited to the United States, he would be exposed to a politicised show trial and grave violations of his human rights," Melzer said.

 

"The main narrative in this affair really is the United States wanting to make an example of Mr. Assange in order to deter other people from following his example," he said. ...

 

And this is de facto true purpose of the whole charade..

[Tug]

I don’t think he has the pull to use the wa wa I want my mommie because they locked me up defense