Doctors of Assange Reveal Reports on Mistreatment Have Intensified the Abuse

SPOTLIGHT, 16 Mar 2020

Angel Fox | Popular Resistance - TRANSCEND Media Service

13 Mar 2020 – Doctors 4 Assange circulated an open letter to the British government requesting the end of Assange’s torture and immediate medical treatment which was greeted by silence in November.  They repeated this letter with signatures from 184 doctors worldwide today. The British government replied to Nils Melzer, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture, that they have not applied torture in this case.  However, many countries do not see psychological torture which includes solitary confinement as actual torture.   They deny the allegations and continue their criminal treatment of a journalist.

By ignoring a statement from a UN official and torturing an innocent man, the British judiciary system has become a farce. The UK government has also become a puppet of the US government. Bowing to their master is negligence on their part as a country to their own citizens. Instead of committing this injustice, they should follow the rule of law and free this journalist.

Julian Assange in London at a Court hearing, 2019

The IBAHRI, also known as the International Bar Association has condemned the reported treatment of Assange during the current U.K. extradition trial and urges the British to protect him. In a statement (seen here), they state the following:

The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) condemns the reported mistreatment of Julian Assange during his United States extradition trial in February 2020, and urges the government of the United Kingdom to take action to protect him. According to his lawyers, Mr Assange was handcuffed 11 times; stripped naked twice and searched; his case files confiscated after the first day of the hearing; and had his request to sit with his lawyers during the trial, rather than in a dock surrounded by bulletproof glass, denied.

IBAHRI Co-Chair, the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, commented: ‘The IBAHRI is concerned that the mistreatment of Julian Assange constitutes breaches of his right to a fair trial and protections enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which the UK is party. It is deeply shocking that as a mature democracy in which the rule of law and the rights of individuals are preserved, the UK Government has been silent and has taken no action to terminate such gross and disproportionate conduct by Crown officials. As well, we are surprised that the presiding judge has reportedly said and done nothing to rebuke the officials and their superiors for such conduct in the case of an accused whose offence is not one of personal violence. Many countries in the world look to Britain as an example in such matters. On this occasion, the example is shocking and excessive. It is reminiscent of the Abu Grahib Prison Scandal which can happen when prison officials are not trained in the basic human rights of detainees and the Nelson Mandela Rules.’

In accordance with the Human Rights Act 1998, which came into force in the UK in October 2000, every person tried in the UK is entitled to a fair trial (Article 6) and freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3). Similarly, Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights upholds an individual’s right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal.

IBAHRI Co-Chair, Anne Ramberg Dr jur hc, commented: ‘The IBAHRI concurs with the widespread concern over the ill-treatment of Mr Assange. He must be afforded equality in access to effective legal representation. With this extradition trial we are witnessing the serious undermining of due process and the rule of law. It is troubling that Mr Assange has complained that he is unable to hear properly what is being said at his trial, and that because he is locked in a glass cage is prevented from communicating freely with his lawyers during the proceedings commensurate with the prosecution.’

A recent report from Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhumane Treatment, presented during the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (24 February – 20 March 2020), argues that the cumulative effects of Mr Assange’s mistreatment over the past decade amount to psychological torture. If Mr Assange was viewed as a victim of psychological torture, his extradition would be illegal under international human rights law.

I have already pointed out that the court is biased through Emma Arbuthnot and Vanessa Baraitser so the question is will the British government allow these two judges to continue to mistreat Assange and allow them to rule on this case with their obvious prejudice against him?  Will the U.K. stop the torture of Assange in Belmarsh prison or will they turn their backs on justice and laws they agreed to follow?

Worldwide support is fast-growing for Julian Assange.  The power of the people is the only way we can stop this travesty and free this man.  Will you join us in speaking up for freedom and true democracy?

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