Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined federal lawmakers in approving a motion calling on the UK and US authorities to permit the repatriation of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange to his home country, Australia. The motion, proposed by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, received significant backing from Albanese’s Labor government and marks an “unprecedented show of political support for Mr. Assange by the Australian parliament.”
Assange, an Australian national, has been held in solitary confinement at London’s Belmarsh prison for nearly five years while awaiting a judgment on an appeal to block his extradition to the United States. The charges against him include espionage, stemming from the publication of classified information exposing US war crimes overseas.
The motion’s passage is seen as a powerful political signal to the UK and US governments, reflecting growing concern over Assange’s plight. Despite diplomatic efforts, including a recent meeting between Australian Attorney General Mark Dreyfus and his US counterpart Merrick Garland, no clear resolution has been reached.
The fate of Assange, who faces a potential 175-year sentence in the US, hinges on an upcoming appeal against extradition scheduled for February 20 and 21 in London. Supporters argue that Assange is being targeted for exposing wrongdoing, emphasizing the case’s significance for press freedom.