Assange detained arbitrarily, should be freed — United Nations panel

The 44-year-old Australian national claimed asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London three-and-a half years ago to escape extradition to Sweden over accusations of sexual assault dating back to 2010.

However, BBC News reported that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the panel’s opinion was “ridiculous” and that Assange was a “fugitive from justice”.

But speaking from inside the Ecuadorian embassy, Mr Assange launched an attack against the Government for its “insulting” response to the UN Working Group report which ruled he should be compensated for his “deprivation of liberty”.

The governments claim that the European Arrest Warrant against Mr. Assange, who is wanted in Sweden over an allegation of rape (that he denies) takes precedence over all else.

SW’s solicitor Elisabeth Massi Fritz told the Mirror: “The panel seems to have a lack of understanding of the fact the alleged rape of a woman is one of the most serious violations and abuses of human rights”.

Mr Assange fears extradition to Sweden will lead to further extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of Wikileaks, the website which has published secret documents and videos, including nearly 400,000 USA military logs.

The British government said Assange avoided arrest by fleeing to the Ecuadoran Embassy and that it was obligated to extradite him to Sweden over an outstanding rape allegation.

“Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point”.

He said the two countries could face “consequences” from the global community if the panel’s findings were not acted upon.

British police say they are under an obligation to arrest Assange the moment he leaves the protected turf of the embassy.

But it’s not clear if the findings of the five members of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention will lead to a change in Assange’s legal status.

While the United Nations did state that its verdict was legally binding, numerous authorities have said that they will continue to pursue Assange.

“I consider the outcome in this case to be indication that the United Nations panel is the expert body in understanding the law on detention”, Assange said.

“The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law”, said Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority.

‘Once the problems with Sweden, which are something of a sideshow, are sorted out, the big question arises, as to whether the Americans will seek to extra-extradite him, to try him and punish him and put him in jail, ‘ Mr Robertson said.

The panel’s decision, which was given privately to the governments before it was released to the public, seems to have stunned officials in Sweden and Britain who maintain proper procedures have been followed at all times.