Wikileaks' Julian Assange fears he may face US death penalty - Polidicks

[URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12159198[/URL] [quote=BBC News][B]Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, who published leaked US diplomatic cables, fears he could face the death penalty in the US, defence documents say. [/B]He is fighting extradition from the UK to Sweden over allegations, which he denies, of sexual offences against two women. His lawyer said there was a "real risk" the US would then seek extradition over the leaking of the diplomatic cables. The [URL="http://www.fsilaw.com/%7E/media/Files/Assange%20Skeleton%20Argument%2011_01_2011.ashx"]claim was made[/URL] ahead of a full extradition hearing next month. Mr Assange founded the whistle-blowing website which published thousands of US embassy cables and other confidential documents online, prompting the US to examine possible charges against him. He appeared before District Judge Nicholas Evans for a 10-minute hearing on Tuesday at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court, sitting at Woolwich Crown Court. The 39-year-old Australian spoke only to confirm his name, age and address, and his case was adjourned until 7 and 8 February for a full hearing. The defence document, posted on the Finers Stephens Innocent website at the request of Mr Assange, suggested [B]that extraditing him to Sweden could breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which bans torture.[/B] "It is submitted that there is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the US will seek his extradition and/or [B]illegal rendition to the USA[/B], where there will be a risk of him being detained at [B]Guantanamo Bay[/B] or elsewhere, in conditions which would breach Article 3 of the ECHR," the document said. "Indeed, if Mr Assange were rendered to the USA without assurances that the death penalty would not be carried out, there is a [B]real risk[/B] that he could be made subject to the [B]death penalty[/B]." Outside court Mr Assange said: "We are happy with today's outcome." He told a throng of journalists: "Our work with Wikileaks continues unabated. We are stepping up publishing for Cablegate and other materials. They will be shortly appearing with the help of our newspaper partners." Bail conditions The bail conditions were varied to enable Mr Assange to stay at the Frontline Club, in Paddington, on 6 and 7 February. Mr Assange has been staying at a manor home on the Norfolk-Suffolk border owned by the Frontline Club's owner, Vaughan Smith, but Mr Robertson argued that it was difficult to reach court in time from that address. Mr Assange was released on bail by a High Court judge just before Christmas after spending nine days in Wandsworth prison. He denies sexually assaulting two female supporters during a visit to Stockholm in August. His defence argument questioned whether the public prosecutor in Gothenburg was authorised to issue the European arrest warrant, as it says only the Swedish National Police Board can do so. Swedish criticism It described Mr Assange as a co-operative witness, saying he had already been questioned at length in Sweden. It also pointed out that he could have been questioned again in Britain, by phone or video link, without being extradited to Sweden. The defence will also criticise the conduct of the investigation in Sweden, saying that "contrary to Swedish law" an acting prosecutor released Mr Assange's name to the press as the suspect in a rape inquiry. After the Swedish authorities announced that Mr Assange had been cleared of rape by the Stockholm prosecutor, "a secret process" took place resulting in the rape allegation being revived by a new prosecutor. This secret process was a "blatant breach" of Mr Assange's human rights, his lawyers will say. They also accuse the Swedish authorities of leaking legal documents to the media. The defence argument also says there had not been full disclosure about text messages sent from one of the women, in which she said she was "half asleep" at the time of sexual intercourse. "In passing it should be noted that if the complainant's own evidence that she was 'half asleep' has been bolstered in the EAW [arrest warrant] into an allegation that she was fully asleep, in order to support the making of a rape allegation, then this would in itself constitute prosecutorial abuse," the defence argued. Mr Assange and his supporters claim the inquiry is politically motivated.[/quote]Doubt it, but I can see him going to Guantanamo Bay if he is renditioned.

US government needs to just fuck off really! if they don't like they're dirty little secrets ( which should be publicly know anyway ) getting out they should do a better job of covering them.

what the hell.

The US Gov shouldn't need to panic because they shouldn't have been hiding things. Government is not for profit, yet they treat it like a business.

[QUOTE=Source;27348370]US government needs to just fuck off really! if they don't like they're dirty little secrets ( which should be publicly know anyway ) getting out they should do a better job of covering them.[/QUOTE] Better idea, be honest with your people and tell them what you're doing. Suddenly no leaks, and you are finally a good transparent government.

looks like his website wont be the only thing leaking in prison

Wow, that's depressing. Way to go, government.

Really smartly done Government. Didn't they learn not to whisper in front of the public?

So, as long as Assange doesn't step onto the US soil he'll be fine. EDIT: Don't think he was planning on doing that anyways :/

[QUOTE=The golden;27348487]$20 says he'll be dead by this time next year.[/QUOTE] Thing is, if something happens to Julian, a worldwide shitstorm against the US would start... I'm sure the last thing the US Government wants is Julian Assange dead/make a martyr out of him.

We haven't heard anything about the US government itself pushing for extradition yet, so hold your horses. It's pretty much just him saying there's a risk Sweden will send him to the US. Considering it's illegal for EU member states to extradite someone to a country where they face a risk of torture or execution, that's not likely. I doubt the US has their tendrils that deep in the Swedish government. (in the cables, it makes quite a few mentions of the Swedish government altering or flat out refusing some requests in regards to all that piracy business)

Also, Sweden... please stop being the US's bitch! Remember who you are! :sweden:

Even if they do something to Assange-- wouldn't it still continue to happen? Wouldn't leaks still continue to appear on the internet for us all to see? Sure, some secrets do need to be kept for the lives of people at stake. But what about the secrets that show that lives are being taken with no reward except for sick enjoyment (a la bradley manning case.) Lets be honest. We, the people, have been jerked and fucked by the higher up's in this world, quietly, secretly, without repercussions. And only now are these secrets wriggling their way out of the framework and into the eyes of the public. [b]There is undoubtedly something fundamentally wrong with some of the secrets that are kept from the public.[/b]

I'm sure he'll go [i]'missing'[/i] before he even gets to court.

USA want to shoot the messenger. Mind you, I suppose it's only fair seen as someone did shoot the sheriff.

[QUOTE=Source;27348370]US government needs to just fuck off really! if they don't like they're dirty little secrets ( which should be publicly know anyway ) getting out they should do a better job of covering them.[/QUOTE] ...and cue everyone who thinks the U.S. is the only government with skeletons in their closet.

[QUOTE=lead_farmer;27348653]I'm sure he'll go [i]'missing'[/i] before he even gets to court.[/QUOTE] I remember saying this a couple months ago. Everyone walways brings this up but I think the governments around the world know that this can't happen to him, otherwise he'd just become a martyr for his cause and create an even bigger stir.

[QUOTE=lead_farmer;27348681]...and cue everyone who thinks the U.S. is the only government with skeletons in their closet.[/QUOTE] Well they're certainly not the only ones, but they sure are trying hard to lead the world ranking...

:ohdear: I'm scared, someone hold me.

I have no idea where to stand on this one.

[QUOTE=Bryanrocks0;27348771]:ohdear: I'm scared, someone hold me.[/QUOTE] :sympathy:

Could is not the same thing as likely.

I really honestly doubt he'll be given the death penalty. He's just saying that to whip up a media frenzy cos he's kinda fallen out of the media over the past week or so.

[QUOTE=MovingSalad;27348644]Even if they do something to Assange-- wouldn't it still continue to happen? Wouldn't leaks still continue to appear on the internet for us all to see? Sure, some secrets do need to be kept for the lives of people at stake. But what about the secrets that show that lives are being taken with no reward except for sick enjoyment (a la bradley manning case.) Lets be honest. We, the people, have been jerked and fucked by the higher up's in this world, quietly, secretly, without repercussions. And only now are these secrets wriggling their way out of the framework and into the eyes of the public. [b]There is undoubtedly something fundamentally wrong with some of the secrets that are kept from the public.[/b][/QUOTE] They are kept away because it would seriously hurt the reputation of certain in power. If that happens the old farts who are still in power will be banished or something. This would seriously hurt the economy for a while and that is probably what they fear. They have the money, they have the power. Don't forget the power of capitalism. I am all for showing the secrets that shouldn't be kept away from public. Sorry, forgot to mention that.

This is so fucking stupid.They would basically kill him for their mistakes.

[QUOTE=Source;27348370]US government needs to just fuck off really! if they don't like they're dirty little secrets ( which should be publicly know anyway ) getting out they should do a better job of covering them.[/QUOTE] Such is the cost of treason and espionage. Regardless of the secrets that is what it is. Also governmental secrets are secrets for a reason. Wrong or not, they are kept secrets for a reason.

[QUOTE=Doozle;27348849]I really honestly doubt he'll be given the death penalty.[/QUOTE] Dunno man, I really want to believe that. In this world we're living in today, anything (and I mean A-NY-THI-N-G) can happen... :/

[QUOTE=GeneralFredrik;27348856]They are kept away because it would seriously hurt the reputation of certain in power. If that happens the old farts who are still in power will be banished or something. This would seriously hurt the economy for a while and that is probably what they fear. They have the money, they have the power. Don't forget the power of capitalism. I am all for showing the secrets that shouldn't be kept away from public. Sorry, forgot to mention that.[/QUOTE] capitalism has nothing to do with this. Why do people use this as some kind of hot button go to word.

Look at how religion has crippled societies of people into believing they must shower religious institutions with money. Citizens, forced into believing that they must pay for their way into heaven. (Roman Empire & reformation) -This was caused by the institutions lieing to the people, saying that they must pay, quite literally, a death tax for their loved ones so their way to heaven was clear. It was total bullshit, and it was kept a secret until-- Low and behold, a really religious guy (Kind of a douchebag, in a way, because he still believed a lot of religious stuff) Martin Luther (a monk. Not the black guy), seized the power of the Printing Press (Mass information, similar to internet) and fucking told everyone about the Catholic Church fucking them over. It caused the reformation. Yes, the reformation from Catholicism to Martin luther and the birth of Protestantism is very different when you compare it to Assange and Wikileaks-- but the mediums in which they [B]essentially dispelled lies[/B] is exceptionally similar. They used mass information spreading, whether through printed text on leaflets, or through the internet.

Killing Assange Would be worse for US relations then any leak.