Julian Assange to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy – should he walk free?

Yesterday Wikileaks founder Julian Assange announced he would soon be leaving the safety of the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador back in 2012 after he feared extradition to Sweden on sexual assault charges.

ABC reports that the 43 year-old Queenslander may be suffering from heart and lung problems, possibly a consequence of his jail-like surroundings. Assange’s living conditions have been less than humane however they were done of his own volition over two years ago. He has feared leaving the small embassy (stationed at the back of a Harrod’s department store) until now as there are round-the-clock guards waiting to arrest him outside. Earlier this year, Julian expressed his daily concern for his welfare, even remaining vigilant on incoming food his assistants purchase for him – he feared being poisoned and thus needing medical attention, something he’s successfully avoided, though now he may have no choice.

At his makeshift press conference at the Embassy on Monday, he addressed reports by saying, “I can confirm that I am leaving the embassy soon, but perhaps not for the reasons that the Murdoch press and Sky News are saying at the moment”. Assange has always maintained that he is merely a mouthpiece exercising his right to free speech however he looks to have paid the price for his human rights – he has not had sunlight for over two years, nor has he had proper exercise.

While Julian may have leaked sensitive documents and might be wanted for questioning over sexual assaults, he still has not been charged with a crime. Is his only crime speaking his mind? With the sexual assaults aside, and focusing solely on his Wikileaks career, was he really a criminal for exposing government files? Shouldn’t we simply be allowed to know what our government is doing?

Assange has not said when he will leave the Embassy, simply that it will be soon. In weeks and months to come, we may know the full scope of what will happen – but does he deserve to go to jail like Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning before gender reassignment)? Manning is in prison for the rest of her life for leaking classified information whilst working in Iraq as an intelligence analyst. Is Julian’s crime as serious as this? He has leaked thousands upon thousands of files to, in his words, expose the “machinations of the powerful”.

In a BBC interview earlier this year, Assange said fellow whistleblower Edward Snowden’s disclosure of documents from GCHQ and America’s National Security Agency were evidence that governments were aspiring to a “god-like knowledge” about everyone.

Here is a quote by radio host PJ Harvey, who introduced him on the BBC show in January: “For many, Julian Assange is a person of great courage who has opened a door to a freedom that ought to be of the essence of democracy”.

What do you think? Do you think Julian Assange should walk free when he leaves the Embassy? Or should he be punished for his desire to know and to share?