WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appeared to struggle to say his own name as he faced court to fight extradition to the US.
Assange, 48, is accused of leaking the country’s government secrets in one of the largest ever compromises of confidential information.
Clean shaven and with his white hair combed back, he appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday wearing a dark blue suit over a pale blue sweater and white shirt.
He mumbled, paused and stuttered as he gave his name and date of birth at the start of a case management hearing.
Protesters gather outside
Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and journalist and documentary maker John Pilger were among Assange’s supporters in a packed public gallery, while dozens of protesters gathered outside court.
Assange’s barrister Mark Summers QC said there is a “direct link” between the “reinvigoration” of the investigation, which was concluded during Barack Obama’s presidency, and the Donald Trump administration.
“Our case will be that this is a political attempt to signal to journalists the consequences of publishing information. It is legally unprecedented,” he said.
American state
Mr Summers also claimed the US was involved in invading his client’s legal privilege.
“The American state has been actively engaged in intruding into privileged discussions between Mr Assange and his lawyers in the embassy, also unlawful copying of their telephones and computers (and) hooded men breaking into offices,” he said.
District Judge Venessa Baraitser refused to grant defence lawyers more time to gather evidence and told Assange his next case management hearing will take place on December 19 before a full extradition hearing in February.
When his case was adjourned, Assange complained that he had not understood proceedings, and said: “This is not equitable.”
He said: “I can’t research anything, I can’t access any of my writing. It’s very difficult where I am.”
Up against a “superpower” with “unlimited resources”
He told the judge he is up against a “superpower” with “unlimited resources” and appeared to be fighting back tears as he added: “I can’t think properly.”
Assange was jailed for 50 weeks in May for breaching his bail conditions after going into hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for nearly seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex offence allegations.
He was due to be released from high-security Belmarsh prison last month, but a judge remanded him in custody because there were “substantial grounds” for believing he would abscond.
Assange faces 18 charges in the US, including allegations he conspired to break into a Pentagon computer and worked with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to leak hundreds of thousands of classified documents.
Former home secretary Sajid Javid signed an order in June allowing Assange to be extradited to the US over the computer-hacking allegations.
Grave concerns
In May, WikiLeaks said it had “grave concerns” about Assange’s health after he was moved to a medical ward in Belmarsh prison. When he did not appear for a scheduled hearing, chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot referred to the Australian as “not very well”.
WikiLeaks said at the time: “During the seven weeks in Belmarsh his health has continued to deteriorate and he has dramatically lost weight.
“The decision of the prison authorities to move him into the health ward speaks for itself.”
In a statement before the hearing, Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Europe, said: “The British authorities must acknowledge the real risks of serious human rights violations Julian Assange would face if sent to the USA and reject the extradition request.
“The UK must comply with the commitment it’s already made that he would not be sent anywhere he could face torture or other ill-treatment.
“The UK must abide by its obligations under international human rights law that forbids the transfer of individuals to another country where they would face serious human rights violations.
“Were Julian Assange to be extradited or subjected to any other transfer to the USA, Britain would be in breach of these obligations.”
Related: Labour out to hijack Brexit legislation as Boris faces Commons showdown
In court he is showing evidence of Mental torture, which is what John Pilger clearly stated, he knew, they are destroying him https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/assange-struggles-to-say-his-own-name-as-he-appears-in-court/21/10/?fbclid=IwAR3xF-XmKqAfMAx7ILBDrcEhc84R2zINWR63xWtpWLR9L9QZzlQ5XftTugw
Why are you linking to this exact same page?
good linking move – it will keep many democrats occupied for years….
That’s right, this is a left vs right debate. Left: Torture is wrong. Right: Win at any and all costs, even at the destruction of our government.
The left has turned against him in the US for exposing Hillary’s and the DNC’s corruption in the 2016 election. He was their hero, as long as he was only exposing crimes the right had committed.
Belgium here… As an impartial observer I must remark: that sounds like a really stupid and extremely irrelevant thing to say, Dennis.
Or Assange is just acting to avoid extradition, which is 99.999% likely to be the case.
Of course Assange is trying to avoid extradition – the court where he would be tried in Virginia has never returned a verdict of not guilty. Why would he choose to spend 175 years in a US supermax, simply for publishing documents in the public interest?
Under human rights laws he is entitled to HABEAS CORPUS. He has been clearly been subjected to severe mental torture in prison, this is already a serious violation by the British Government.
Saving him from torture in the USA???? He’s already being tortured!
Why is he in solitary confinement .. He’s not violent or a threat to anyone.
I’m just realising how barbaric we westerners are 🤔🤤
The persecution & torment from the time he entere the Equadorian Embassy is barbaric beyond belief.
Those responsible are malevelant sadists.
Which is why… I’m sad to say we ‘rule’ the world. We’re the biggest a-holes.
Perhaps, but he was exhibiting bizarre behaviors ar the embassy before his incarceration. Trump liked him at one point so who knows what would happen if he was extradited.
Oh, for heaven’s sake, can’t you tell when someone is being smeared?
This is a disgrace.
Julian Assange is a hero to countless people here in the UK, as we see America becoming more and more turgidly militaristic in the alien mode of robocop, more and more invasive and controlling in people’s personal lives, and frankly many of us are sick of it. They also have a complete moron as a president, and accept that, which speaks volumes and America is generally a broken country despite all its bluster and front. Many stratas of their society is drug-soaked and ruined, despite their much-trumpeted ‘war on drugs’ and it is a racist country too, so nothing has changed from the 50’s and now it’s becoming a fascist country by degrees as well. I hope that Julian Assange tonight, wherever he is, knows that many citizens of the UK do not like what the future is becoming, even here in the UK too, and and respect his stance. That may be of little comfort as the CIA and FBI types wrap their chilling systemic tentacles around him, but they can’t take away the deep respect that many, many people hold for him. And, they never will.
thank you for speaking up. It means something to know that you see past the bluster and front. #therevolutionwillnotbetelevised — Indeed, we are fighting fascism here in the US.
I hope that Julian knows we are citizens from around the world, grateful and speaking up for him too.
You’re not fighting fascism in the U.S. You’re fighting misinformation and propaganda from the left while they attempt to shackle you with socialism.
Agreed Ryan. It’s the Socialist mafia.
Julian Assange certainly IS a Hero.
My service on the Arctic Convoys of World War 2 means I myself am rated as a ‘Hero’, though I reject the accolade with distaste, as I do the tin-pot medals awarded to me.
To cut a very long story short,
Until the age of 70 I was proud to be British, but then came a succession of shocks as I learned the truth, all my pride, all my lifelong beliefs shattered. In memory of all those men who had died around me (British & German), I became a whistle-blower. This brought many years of persecution by the corrupt British State, comparable to that inflicted on Assange.
Stitched up for a NON-EXISTENT ‘crime’, there was a grotesque ‘trial’ (PRESIDED OVER BY A JUDGE WHO HAS SINCE DIED IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL!) He imposed on me, then aged 75, a sentence to ensure I died in prison. Well, I didn’t die, but served more than 6 years in many different prisons & so-called ‘Mental Hospitals’ (a favourite way to silence whistle-blowers).
However, a miracle happened, & I came under a psychiatrist who was not a puppet of The State (as all too many are), & he released me. Imprisoned again at the age of 85 (for ‘Contempt’), I finally accepted that Britain is not a safe place for anyone who tells the truth, & fled the land of my birth for safety in Ireland.
I have compared my treatment to that of Assange, but at least I am now free, & happy. The torment inflicted on Assange is of a different magnitude, & his persecutors are determined it will never end. This is not a question of ‘punishment’, when that already inflicted on him far outweighs whatever ‘crime’ he may have committed. It is to satisfy the malice of those whose sadism is insatiable.
Now aged 94 I would like to visit my homeland once more, but dare not, knowing what awaits me if I do!
Thank you for opening up our eyes. Britain once was a leader of fair play, but these times seem to be gone.
When exactly was that Karlheinz
You are a hero
Thank you for the absolutely sharp sum-up.
That Sajid Javid has determined that Assange can be extradited to the USA, where he could theoretically face the Death Penalty, tells one everything you need to know about this corrupt Tory Government.
The United Kingdom, Once a paragon of justice and all things right is sinking deeper into a quagmire of servitude to the USA. They purport to be seeking to ‘take back control’ from the European Union and yet have already sold us down the the river to the biggest mendacious Government on the planet.
“The United Kingdom, Once a paragon of justice and all things right” In what universe?
Obviously powerful Western Governments,including the UK are complicit in suppressing the truth and seek to shoot the messenger. Harsh times ahead as extremist governments gain footholds.
#ProtectorsNOTProtesters #SMH #OperationMockingbird #WeAreMaunaKea #StandWithStandingRocks
Julian Assange deserves a medal, not a prison cell. The British people need to stick up for him and freedom of speech and stop his extradition. Long may Julian Assange and Wikileaks continue to expose the crimes of the deep state. He should be allowed to stay here and given a knighthood for services to humanity and his determination to make the world a better place. Chin up Julian, you are much loved and respected. Good luck and best wishes. May God bless you and protect you from all evil.
I tend to agree with you even though I don’t fully understand what he has done.
To treat any person is this way is barbaric. I never knew that we would be capable of such inhumane treatment in this day and age.
Julian Assange has been indicted for espionage by the US, for releasing a few huge tranches of secret US documents relating to the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, and cables from US embassies all over the world.
Yes I agree with you completely
Every single media outlet has published these documents. Every time we click a mouse, and hit SEND, that information is Public!! If Julian goes down, every single media corporation Must be charged and go down with him. We all know there is no truth to any of these fabricated charges. Julian has never once broken any law. Julian only published what was ALREADY Public information. The whole thing is the “goddamn Democrats socialists” doing a deep state “hatchet job”. Trump should slap sanctions on the UK and bankrupt them until Julian is released! Want to see the Brit Pound bankrupt? We can make it happen. You want more riots in the streets? We Will make that happen. You want Revolution in the streets ?? We Will make that happen. RELEASE ASSANGE NOW!!!!
Indeed!
Assange is, obviously, a political prisoner, held in the UK for trumped-up offences alleged in and by the US. It obviously does not require solitary confinement in a maximum security facility, without reasonable access to legal resources , because of “flight risk”. That is ludicrous. Are the authorities concerned that he might escape by turning himself into an email? What this unjust and vindictive behaviour proves is simply that the UK is a catspaw for US human rights abuses, now in Belmarsh just as before in Abu Ghraib.
Why keep torturing a man who was only doing his job and finding out who the evil people were in the US and other places..there are murderers who only get a slap on the wrist or very little jail time, pedophiles , who rape over & over , they get nothing. So this man Julian Assange has already suffered more than anyone that has committed no crime, please have a heart if you are human, and set him free…the corruptions of this world makes good men victims…Please set him free, so he can get help to get his health back !
But what can we do? Protesting isn’t going to accomplish anything!
Anglo Saxons have the liberty in defining Democracy and Freedom in their own way, where and when it suits them. From African slavery, men in chains around their necks right up to Iraq, it has been a hog wash on human rights using platforms in UN controlled by Anglos. Just as much there was a Darwin, among them there exist angels who dare to challenge their version of democracy and freedom and human rights. Britain and USA have been the very Pariahs of abuse of human rights and as Chomsky observes, every US post war president in USA has to be labelled as a War Criminal. Assange, a true Aussie who challenges the ‘system’, is being a victim of brain re-wiring, with use of modern medicine to mess him up, in a prison hospital. No power is above Anglo Saxon and its time the world begin to Brexit and USexit from world bodies.
First of all Sunvil. The Normans took over the UK in 1066. So if you want to be pissed off at certain culture take look at the Normans. Secondly, Anglos? UN? Like China, Russia and France are Anglos? And the US is a melting pot. Are you one of those Racist people?
For Gods sake! Everyone knows he should be released and left alone – at least…
and be given help for support. I don’t know of anybody who thinks what he did was bad.
That is the consensus of the people.
What exactly has he done to deserve not only the death penalty, but a slow death by mental torture?
Who are the real evil ones? God help him because obviously we can’t 🙁☹😢😢🙏🙏
I tend to agree with you even though I don’t fully understand what he has done.
To treat any person is this way is barbaric. I never knew that we would be capable of such inhumane treatment in this day and age.
The soon he goes the better!
If you are going to play with the big boys, then expect to play by their rules – and when you try it on with them and get caught, you shouldn’t be at all surprised when the come after you; esp if you’ve made them look bad!!!!
The world is a nasty place and society equally so, below the surface. Assange put a large number of people at severe risk however ‘honourable’ his stated intentions might’ve been. By releasing such a broad swath info that he really had no understanding of, he made the world a much less safer place, he’s no hero he’s just a self serving fool.
Really inaccurate ignorant comment. Julian Assange is a publisher a journalist he works with many other journalists. Holding Governments to account. His case is historical and crucial to Press Freedom a d Freedom of information and speech you idiot. Joined life was at risk, proven in court cases multiple times, no evidence could be provided to the contrary. What he did do was save millions from further unlawful invasions by corrupt government a d informed us the public of how they get away with it.
#DontShootTheMessenger
Totally wrong to say he put people at risk, when every relevant US agency has clearly stated no one was ever put at risk by the publication of those documents and videos.
And how exactly has he “made the world a much less safer place” when what he did only exposed the illegal actions and misdeeds of government and military officials, which is something the public has a right to know. That those who committed those illegal actions and misdeeds have never been held to account is the real issue here.
So… Might makes right?
No mate… he was serving everyone but himself, even you… you’re just too ‘damn MAGA to realise.
The claim that Assange put a large number of people at severe risk is a stretch. It has been nearly a decade since the releases and no-one has come to harm so far.
Retired Ambassador to the UK Craig Murray’s observations at the hearing.
Very disturbing details he noted. Unlawful violations to go with it.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2019/10/assange-in-court/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
“WikiLeaks said at the time: “During the seven weeks in Belmarsh his health has continued to deteriorate and he has dramatically lost weight.
“The decision of the prison authorities to move him into the health ward speaks for itself.”
In a statement before the hearing, Massimo Moratti, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Europe, said: “The British authorities must acknowledge the real risks of serious human rights violations Julian Assange would face if sent to the USA and reject the extradition request.
“The UK must comply with the commitment it’s already made that he would not be sent anywhere he could face torture or other ill-treatment.”
Is this some kind of joke, or what?! the man has been in a British prison for months now, yet they are afraid he will be subjected to harsher treatment here in the U.S. than he’s been subjected to there?! And, what ‘death penalty’ would he be facing, may I ask?! Did he kill someone?! If not, then would he be tried for Treason against the United States of America, as a citizen?! This whole thing is just ridiculous. He needs to come here to testify in the Seth Rich murder case, not because he helped to murder Rich, but because he can give information as to whom it might be that had Seth killed.
I’ve read Craig Murray’s account of the court proceedings and it’s both barbaric and frightening. Unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be reported by most of the MSM. How much else slips under the radar?
Exactly so. Unironically, it shows us how much we actually need organisations like WikiLeaks.
FREE ASSANGE… YOU SCUMS!!!
FREE ASSANGE… YOU BASTARDS!!!
Whole thing has nothing to do with Assange.
The people pulling the strings and pushing the buttons probably don’t remember his name.
This is all for the rest of us – “Watch you lot, toe the line, or you’re fcuked.”
True. There’s only one message here… Might makes right.
They forget however… Sic… Semper… Tyrannis.
Julian Assange is AUSTRALIAN – and our Government have done NOTHING to assist him. Australia is also in danger of becoming a total fascists state – simply a puppet of the UK (Her Majesty Queen Elziabeth is also our Queen) AND the US – finally, has anyone seen the post in which their appears a photo of Boris Johnston, Donald Trump and (Aussie) Scott Morrison? Simply SCARY!
The Australian Government have done NOTHING to assist him. Australia is also in danger of becoming a total fascists state – simply a puppet of the UK (Her Majesty Queen Elziabeth is also our Queen) AND the US – finally, has anyone seen the post in which their appears a photo of Boris Johnston, Donald Trump and (Aussie) Scott Morrison? Simply SCARY!
“They Are Against Torture Unless It Benefits Their, Point Of View!”
Why is everyone involved in the scam of pretending this is a “legal process” not being shot like the scum they are?
Julian Assange is an honest Journalist…I believe he has much evidence that Hillary Rodham Clinton is a criminal…If he were sent back to the US…he would NOT be tortured that is ludicrous…We don’t torture people here…He would be safe… He certainly doesn’t seem safe where he is… Sean Hannity , talk show TV Host, here in America interviewed Assange a few years back b4 he was arrested…That is when I knew that he was hiding out because he feared for his life because he had much evidence on HRC…. I don’t really understand what else ‘they say’ he has done wrong to be treated like he’s being treated…. It’s WRONG !
He should be released. He exposed much corruption. That is why they torture him in hopes he will die soon.
Seems to me he’s not just being physically tortured, he is under Directed Energy Weapon torture as well. Clear symptoms…I’m experiencing that to….very hard to think, have to think for a minute just to remember things like your own name and date of birth! Blurred vision, constant headaches, very hard to sleep= constantly tired all the time. It’s gotten worse since these little blue pyramids went up on the lamp posts and smart meter went in….they’ve building the infrastructure now so that they can do it to anybody at will at any time 🙁
But this guy is locked up, he’s probably under a higher level of it, got no shielding at all and can’t even go for a walk to get away from it for a bit. Disgusts me what this country has become…and they did it to me for simply talking about that!