On Saturday, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Julian Assange’s possible extradition poses a threat to the rights of whistleblowers and investigative journalists. Meanwhile, as WikiLeaks has amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in crypto assets since Assange was held hostage in London in 2019, cryptocurrency supporters continue to donate to Assange and his legal battle.
The United Nations’ human rights chief said the US’s attempt to extradite Assange ‘poses a threat to media freedom’.
The United States is seeking the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for leaking classified information provided by US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. When WikiLeaks published the “Collateral Killing” video, Afghanistan war records, Iraq war logs and Cablegate, the US government launched a full criminal investigation into Assange. When federal authorities announced the indictment against Assange, the complaints stemmed from tips provided by Manning. Assange was charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917.
Assange joins others who have been indicted under the 1917 Espionage Act, including Alexander Berkman, Emma Goldman, Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden. Assange Granted asylum in Ecuador in 2012, seven years later, on April 11, 2019, he was pulled from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and has been fighting extradition to the United States ever since. This week, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed concern about extraditing Assange to the US.
Speaking to Assange’s wife and lawyers, Bachelet said:
Mr. Assange’s extradition and indictment raises concerns about media freedom and the potential chilling effect on investigative journalism and whistleblower activity.
Jennifer Robinson, one of Assange’s lawyers, told reporters that the case would be referred to the European Court of Human Rights. Assange’s lawyers argue that the WikiLeaks founder is being “accused and punished for his political views.” Following Bachelet’s initial comments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said her office would follow up on the abductor’s case.
“In these circumstances, I want to emphasize the importance of ensuring respect [for] Mr. Assange’s human rights, especially in this case, the right to a fair trial and due process are guaranteed,” Bachelet told the press. “My office will continue to closely monitor Assange’s case.”
WikiLeaks spends hundreds of thousands in Bitcoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash.
WikiLeaks has been accepting Bitcoin as a cryptocurrency since 2010. Cryptocurrency donations started pouring in after Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London and continue to this day. In the past four months, WikiLeaks has collected $133,179 worth of 3.480 BTC using today’s Bitcoin exchange rate. Wikileaks BTC has changed frequently over the past few years.
The data shows that over the past 24 months, WikiLeaks has raised 228.16 BCH worth to $100,000. Over the past four years, WikiLeaks has amassed 145,647 ETH worth 147.48 ETH using today’s Ether currency rate. Of course, large amounts of BTC, BCH, and ETH were donated at a much higher USD value than they are today. Wikileaks also accepts donations in litecoin (LTC), zcash (ZEC) and monero (XMR).
What do you think of the UN human rights chief saying the US extradition of Assange could do terrible damage to media freedom, whistleblowers and investigative journalism? Let us know what you think about this in the comments section below.
Image credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Editorial Photo Credit: London, Britain, October 21, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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