WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made his first public appearance since his release on Tuesday. He called for better protection of journalists. He is not free because the system worked (see video above).
“Today I am free because, after years of imprisonment, I have pleaded guilty – guilty of journalistic activities,” Assange told the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on Tuesday. The rights of journalists in Europe are in danger. As reported, the founder of the research and investigative platform WikiLeaks was released in June following a deal with the US justice system.
He had previously spent fourteen years under house arrest, in the asylum of the Ecuadorian embassy in London and in a high-security British prison. As a result of an agreement with the American legal system, he pleaded guilty to passing on confidential information and was sentenced to prison. Because the 53-year-old had already served his sentence, he was released and returned to his country of origin, Australia.
Critics consider him a traitor
The US legal system had accused the Australian of publishing around 700,000 confidential documents on military and diplomatic activities from 2010 onwards. It contained explosive information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the killing of civilians and mistreatment of prisoners by US forces.
To his supporters, Assange is a hero who fights for freedom of expression. His critics see him as a traitor who has endangered the security of the US and Secret Service resources.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
