Signatories include MPs Zoe Daniel, Helen Haines, Monique Ryan, David Pocock, Kylea Tink, Andrew Wilkie, and key human rights and media advocates.
A coalition of Australians, including independent Members of Parliament and prominent human rights advocates, has called on outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden to grant a full and unconditional pardon to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The open letter, signed on Jan. 17, urged Biden to set aside Assange’s conviction and reinforce the shared democratic values between Australia and the United States.
It raises concerns that Assange’s recent guilty plea, part of a deal that ended his 14-year legal ordeal, sets a troubling precedent for press freedom.
It is the group’s last appeal to Biden before President-elect Donald Trump takes office from Jan. 20.
The letter also criticises the United States Espionage Act conviction, calling it a dangerous example of governments targeting journalists and whistleblowers.
“The deal which forced him to plead guilty in exchange for his freedom endangers journalists worldwide and undermines Australia and the United States’ longstanding commitment to press freedom and democratic accountability,” the…
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