Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, has returned home to Australia after a plea deal allowed him to walk free from a London prison. Emotional scenes unfolded at Canberra Airport as Assange reunited with his wife, Stella, and father, with his lawyers looking on visibly moved.
Stella Assange spoke to reporters at a news conference, emphasizing the need for her husband to recuperate and adjust to his newfound freedom. She highlighted the toll that the legal battle with US officials over the past 14 years has taken on Assange, who did not attend the conference himself.
The plea deal saw Assange plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, a significant reduction from the 18 charges he was originally facing. This case stemmed from Wikileaks’ release of classified documents in 2010, including a video showing civilians being killed in Iraq by a US military helicopter.
Assange’s lawyer, Jen Robinson, criticized the deal as a “criminalization of journalism” and set a dangerous precedent. Stella Assange echoed these sentiments, urging the media to recognize the implications of convicting individuals for publishing information in the public interest.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played a crucial role in securing Assange’s release, with the PM stating that it was time for Assange to be freed after enduring a considerable ordeal. Despite not agreeing with all of Assange’s actions, Albanese emphasized the importance of prioritizing his release.
Assange spent the last five years at London’s Belmarsh Prison, fighting extradition to the US over the document leaks. The Swedish rape and sexual assault charges against him were dropped in 2019, leading to his eventual release.
Women’s rights groups in Sweden expressed disappointment that Assange was never officially questioned over the rape allegations, calling it a “chapter of shame and betrayal” that concludes with his release.
Assange’s return to Australia marks a new chapter in his tumultuous journey, as he seeks to recover and rebuild his life after years of legal battles and confinement.
