Julian Assange's Release Is A Victory That Ends His Persecution For Exposing War On Terror Abuses.

London - Today, Julian Assange secured a historic victory after being released from prison and having successfully blocked his extradition to the US, where he faced a potential 175 years in prison. His offence has always been exposing the war crimes, torture, and abuses perpetrated by US, British, and other Western forces during the unlawful invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.
 
Assange took a plea deal that ensured he can return home to his family and bring an end to his 12 year ordeal and leave the UK as a free man. Despite facing immense personal risks to his health and safety, his selfless and courageous actions brought to light countless abuses and assisted many others in getting justice and holding those in power to account. From the Guantanamo Files to the Afghanistan and Iraq Cables, Assange and Wikileaks shed a spotlight on the atrocities committed during the War on Terror. 
 
The UK-US UK-US Extradition Treaty of 2003, ratified without Parliamentary scrutiny and approval, is an entirely lopsided arrangement that undermines the sovereignty of the UK's judicial system. While the US can demand extradition without presenting evidence of guilt, the UK is held to stringent standards in extraditing individuals from the US. Such flagrant inequality not only undermines principles of justice but also compromises the independence of the UK. 
 
Despite today’s significant victory, representing a milestone in the fight for justice and free speech, we must not forget the Muslim lives that have been destroyed by the UK-US Extradition Treaty. The extraditions of Babar Ahmad, Talha Ahsan, Abu Hamza and co, exemplify the UK government's abandonment of its responsibilities to its citizens and the outsourcing of its judicial system to the US. These UK citizens faced and in the case of Abu Hamza, continue to face torturous conditions in US supermax prisons. 

Muhammad Rabbani, Managing Director of CAGE International said: 
 
“The decision to release Julian Assange has brought an end to more than a decade-long persecution. It’s the final episode of an open conspiracy that sought to silence, arguably, the most consequential whistleblower in modern times.

Assange’s case exemplifies how a power originally conceived to target Muslims, has expanded to infringe upon the rights of wider society. Assange himself warned that the injustices faced by Muslim communities could soon be inflicted upon others. It’s time we heed his call, celebrate his freedom and continue to demand an end to the War on Terror so no one has to go through this same ordeal again.”

Photo by Free Assange - #FreeAssange on X