Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The right to freedom of expression and the freedom of the media are protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is considered one of the pillars of democratic society and security in Europe, yet when it comes to the persecution of journalist Julian Assange our Government's and the European Council's silence is deafening. He is still incarcerated in Belmarsh prison. He has been incarcerated for years and we know he is in very ill health. It is generally accepted that if he is extradited to the United States he could face up to 170 years in prison. The National Union of Journalists, NUJ, has made its concerns very clear about this. It states:

If this extradition is allowed, it will send a clear signal that journalists and publishers are at risk whenever their work discomforts the United States government. Media freedom the world over will take a significant backward step if Julian Assange is forced to face these charges at the behest of a US president.

We are told he will be treated humanely if he is extradited, but as his barrister, Edward Fitzgerald, recently reminded us, revelations have shown that the CIA had made serious plans to kidnap and even assassinate him. I ask the Minister of State to take the next opportunity he has to raise this at European Council level. The European Council should speak out strongly on this.

For those who do not know much about Julian Assange, his crime is that he exposed war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have raised this matter in the House several times previously and I have raised the use of Shannon Airport for wars in the Middle East and the damage that has done. Why not begin undoing that damage by speaking up for this man and by giving protection to whistleblowers?

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