Oscar Grenfell, Author at Countercurrents

Hundreds of journalists around the world sign open letter demanding freedom for Assange

Hundreds of journalists and media workers from every corner of the globe have put their name to an impassioned open letter demanding the unconditional freedom of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and an immediate “end to the legal campaign being waged against him for the crime of revealing war crimes.” The 422 signatories to date include WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, world-renowned investigative journalist[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — December 9, 2019 — Human Rights

British judge jails Assange indefinitely, despite end of prison sentence

In a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning, British District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled that WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange will remain in prison, despite the fact that his custodial sentence for “absconding” bail expires on September 22. The ruling is the latest in a series of attacks on Assange’s legal and democratic rights by the British judiciary. It means[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — September 14, 2019 — World

Punitive fines threaten whistleblower Chelsea Manning with bankruptcy

Last Thursday, lawyers for the courageous whistleblower Chelsea Manning issued a legal challenge to punitive fines that were imposed upon her by a federal district court judge last month. Her legal team has warned that the unprecedented financial penalties threaten her with imminent bankruptcy. Manning has been imprisoned by the Trump administration since May 16 for refusing to give perjured testimony[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — June 24, 2019 — World

US issues formal request for Assange’s extradition

The Washington Post reported today that officials from the US Justice Department issued a formal request to British authorities last Thursday for the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The document has not been made public. The US government had 60 days from Assange’s arrest by British police on April 11 to deliver a complete extradition application to the UK. The first[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — June 11, 2019 — World

In legal victory for Assange, Swedish court rules against extradition

The Uppsala District Court yesterday ruled against a bid by Swedish state prosecutors for the country to formally detain WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in absentia, which would have set in motion a request for his extradition from Britain. Assange’s lawyers have described the judgement as a legal “victory.” It is a blow to the attempts by Swedish prosecutors to secure[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — June 4, 2019 — World

Britain and Australia dismiss UN report that Assange has been tortured

The British and Australian governments have blithely dismissed a May 31 report by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, which established that WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange has been the victim of a protracted campaign of “psychological torture.” The brazen responses demonstrate the criminality of the US-led vendetta against Assange, which is proceeding in violation of due[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — June 3, 2019 — Human Rights

Despite Assange’s ill-health, Swedish court rejects delay to hearing

A Swedish district court this week rejected an application by Julian Assange’s lawyers for a June 3 hearing into bogus sexual misconduct allegations to be delayed. The ruling was made despite the fact that the WikiLeaks founder is reportedly too ill to consult with his lawyers and has not received English-language translations of the arrest warrant or underlying evidence against[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — May 29, 2019 — World

“Truth ultimately is all we have:” Julian Assange appeals for public support

In his first publicly-released comments to supporters since his arrest, WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange has detailed the repressive conditions he faces in Britain’s Belmarsh prison and called for a campaign against his threatened extradition to the United States. “I am defenceless and am counting on you and others of good character to save my life,” Assange wrote, adding,[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — May 25, 2019 — World

On Australian TV, Julian Assange’s father calls for son’s freedom | Oscar Grenfell

On the nationally-televised “60 minutes” program last night, John Shipton, Julian Assange’s father, issued a powerful call for his son’s freedom. The program was aired on Channel Nine some two weeks after Assange was illegally expelled from Ecuador’s London embassy, where he was granted asylum in 2012, and arrested by British police. Shipton responded to footage of the brutal arrest,[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — April 29, 2019 — World

Unsealed affidavit demonstrates US seeking to prosecute Assange for his journalism

An affidavit unsealed by US prosecutors on Monday has underscored the unlawful character of the Trump administration’s request that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be extradited to the US in the wake of his illegal expulsion from Ecuador’s London embassy and arrest by the British police last Thursday. The affidavit was made by Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) special agent Megan[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — April 17, 2019 — World

UN Special Rapporteur: US extradition of Assange would be violation of international law

Following WikiLeaks’ warning yesterday that Julian Assange faced imminent eviction from Ecuador’s London embassy, widespread opposition has emerged to the illegal plans to terminate his political asylum. Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, issued a statement calling upon the Ecuadorian government of President Lenín Moreno to “abstain from expelling Mr. Assange … or from otherwise ceasing or suspending[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — April 6, 2019 — World

WikiLeaks warns that Julian Assange faces imminent eviction from Ecuador’s London embassy

WikiLeaks today issued a warning that its founder, Julian Assange, faces imminent eviction from Ecuador’s London embassy, where he sought political asylum in 2012. The publishing organisation indicated that he would then be arrested by the British police. A post by the official WikiLeaks Twitter account at around 5:30 p.m., US Eastern Standard Time, stated: “BREAKING: A high level source[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — April 5, 2019 — World

Ecuadorian president threatens to evict Julian Assange from London embassy

In a clear threat to expel Julian Assange from Ecuador’s London embassy, the country’s President Lenín Moreno declared in an interview yesterday that the WikiLeaks founder had “repeatedly violated the conditions of his asylum.” Moreno stated that his government would “take a decision” “in the short term” on Assange’s circumstances. The comments are the latest public indication of an advanced[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — April 3, 2019 — World

Corporate media smears WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

A number of corporate media outlets have begun the year by publishing scurrilous and derisive attacks against WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange. The coverage has the character of a coordinated political campaign, with the most sinister motives. Its aim is to legitimise the stepped-up persecution of Assange by the US and British governments, which are pursuing the journalist and[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — January 11, 2019 — Human Rights

US airstrikes kill at least 30 civilians in Afghanistan

Local officials and residents have confirmed that US airstrikes on Tuesday night killed at least 30 civilians in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand Province. These tragic deaths are the latest war crime in the 17-year US-NATO occupation, aimed at subjugating the geo-strategically critical nation to the dictates of the US and its allies. The strikes were part of a “surge” of US[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — November 29, 2018 — World

UN condemns Burma’s persecution of Rohingya minority

A UN fact-finding panel issued a report on Monday calling for the prosecution of six senior Burmese generals on charges of genocide over their role in the state persecution of the country’s Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority. The document is the sharpest rebuke by the international body against the Burmese regime, since it launched wholesale ethnic cleansing last year. The findings[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — August 30, 2018 — Human Rights

British and Ecuadorian authorities in talks to evict Julian Assange from London embassy

The London-based Times newspaper reported yesterday that the British and Ecuadorian governments have been holding secret discussions on plans to evict WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange from Ecuador’s London embassy, where he sought political asylum six years ago. The article said the talks are “an attempt to remove Assange” from the embassy and are being conducted at the highest levels of government, with[Read More…]

by Oscar Grenfell — July 16, 2018 — World

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Articles by: Oscar Grenfell