A support rally for Julian Assange occurred in front of Westminster Magistrates Court in London as he awaits release from Belmarsh Prison. Assange has reportedly entered into a plea deal with the U.S. government, putting an end to his international legal battle over the handling of classified information.
Australian leaders have long been advocating for Assange’s release and it seems that their efforts have paid off, with President Biden confirming that the U.S. authorities were considering dropping the case. Assange is expected to plead guilty to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information and could face a 62-month sentence.
Assange’s legal journey has been complicated, involving allegations of sexual assault in Sweden, sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, and facing extradition to the United States on espionage and computer misuse charges. The recent plea deal will allow him to avoid further legal proceedings over the extradition process that has been ongoing for several years.
Support for Assange has come from human rights organizations and journalism groups, who fear that his case could set a dangerous precedent for charging journalists with national security crimes. This case has sparked debates about press freedom and government transparency in the digital age.
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