back to article Assange should be furloughed from Belmarsh prison, says human rights org. Here's a thought: He could stay with friends!

The son of British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood wants accused US government hacker Julian Assange "furloughed" from Belmarsh prison in southeast London, UK. The apparently serious suggestion was made by human rights charity Humanade, of which Joseph Corré is a trustee. Corré, Westwood's son by the late Sex Pistols …

  1. IGotOut Silver badge

    Sure...

    Joseph Corré can take his place and only be released upon his return.

    He's obviously very confident of that happening, so nothing to worry about.

    1. David Shaw

      Sure...

      a few more facts

      https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=17012

      The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Deems the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Julian Assange as arbitrary

      On 4 December 2015, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) adopted Opinion No. 54/2015, in which it considered that Mr. Julian Assange was arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain

      and more recently , Belmarsh 2019

      https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Terrorism/FinalSRTStatementGA14Oct 2019.pdf (pdf, 6 pages)

      Mr. Assange showed a pattern of symptoms typical for long-term exposure to psychological torture, I regret to report that none of the concerned States have agreed to investigate or redress their alleged involvement in his abuse as required of them under human rights law.

      from Nils Melzer, United Nations special rapporteur on Torture, professor of international law at the University of Glasgow; holds the Human Rights Chair at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Switzerland

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Sure...

        The big problem is that Nils has got almost ALL of his information on the case from Assange and his lawyers, and thats got certain... "issues" with factuality. Like it forgets that in the first extradition hearing (Feb 2011) they tried to claim Ny never tried to interview Assange, and that Assange was free to leave the country.

        Problem was, Ny submitted evidence showing that she'd arranged interviews, and that her last communication with Assange's lawyer was the day before the alleged interview, where she also informed the lawyer he'd probably be taken into custody.

        How to reconcile this? Well, the court asked the lawyer to check his phone, and wouldn't you know it, everything Ny claimed turned out to be true, and everything the layer said turned out to be false. Then when asked when Assange left Sweden, turned out to be... a few hours after Hurtig was told Assange would be arrested the next day. Gee, what a coincidence! And for the UK, the country everyone that's trying to avoid the US goes to. Oh, and then because of that, his own experts turned on him and that rather than Ny doing a bad job and screwing him over, they said she was overly lenient with him, and they'd have put him in custody at the start, like is standard.

        Nils is destroying his own reputation by going from a one-sided account that has - at best - a passing acquaintance with the facts.

      2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: Sure...

        "Mr. Assange showed a pattern of symptoms typical for long-term exposure to psychological torture, "

        Not forgetting, of course, that the "signs of long term torture" could only be either a result of his choice to "self-isolate" in the Ecuadorian embassy or, alternatively, the Ecuadorians did it to him. The Brits and the Swedes had no access to him for most of the 2010's so were unable to torture him.

    2. simonlb Silver badge
      WTF?

      Re: Sure...

      "If Assange contracts COVID-19 and dies, the UK government will be accused of deliberately and methodically killing Julian Assange."

      WTAF? Why is this twat always portrayed as the victim and all the facts around as to why he is actually in prison just conveniently ignored every single time? He has proven to be completely untrustworthy and a flight risk so he should stay right where he is for as long as necessary until the legal process is complete.

      The only thing furloughed here is the common sense and logic from the brains of Assange's supporters. I'm pretty sure under the current UK Covid-19 emergency legislation these supporters could be sectioned due to their tenuous grip on reality.

      1. Anonymous Coward Silver badge
        Boffin

        Re: Sure...

        He is such a major flight risk that he cannot be released on furlough or similar.

        But if he's that worried about contracting covid-19, there's another way to keep him safe... solitary confinement. If he has zero contact with any other living creature, the risk of contracting it are significantly reduced to the point of elimination.

  2. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
    Joke

    "Julian's many friends would be happy to accommodate him, well away from London".

    Julian is a very good friend of mine. He can come and stay over here. I'll send transport over and an escort detail so he does not come to any harm during the journey.

    Donald

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      The UK government will stop at nothing to hunt down foreigners who have sex with foreigners abroad without a condom.Look at the masses of Met police swarming Ibiza every summer

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        I don't think the UK Government had any decisions on that particular behaviour. The case was about an extradition request which JA skipped bail and holed himself up in an embassy to escape justice.

        The legal process was not about whether he was guilty of an offence, only whether the grounds for extradition were reasonable. He hadn't committed an offence in the UK at that point however as soon as he skipped bail, he had. That is an offence and rightly should be punished regardless. The place to fight the rights of an extradition are in the courts and not by committing another crime and saying that it doesn't matter because the first crime was not true.

        1. Justin Morahan

          So why, if the justice system is so perfect, is Julian still in prison in Belmarsh months after his term of imprisonment has expired?

      2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        "The UK government will stop at nothing to hunt down foreigners who have sex with foreigners abroad without a condom.Look at the masses of Met police swarming Ibiza every summer"

        I think you will find that someone resident in the UK and wanted on rape charges by the Spanish would be treated exactly the same. Certainly while we were EU members and still now, while in the "transition period" such that the same rules apply.

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          >I think you will find that someone resident in the UK and wanted on rape charges by the Spanish would be treated exactly the same.

          When a Chilean dictator was resident in Britain and wanted by Spain for murder and war crimes we declined on the basis that he was a friend of the USA

        2. @digikoolaid

          There never were any rape charges. Where did you get this fantasy ??

  3. Boris the Cockroach Silver badge
    FAIL

    Previous for breaching bail conditions..... very unlikely to get bail again.....

    Although stranger things have happened

    1. @digikoolaid

      Julian has served the full sentence (and more) for a minor bail infringement. He should not be imprisoned and should now be released.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    At least where I live

    They've been doing early release from prison for people eligible for parole, and some people were released early on the promise to return later when ordered! That would require a fair amount of trust, something that a guy who hid out in an embassy and cost British taxpayers millions of pounds to prevent him from escaping does not deserve.

  5. hittitezombie

    "If Assange contracts COVID-19 and dies..."

    Well, there's always an upside to a disaster.

  6. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    It's so unfair when a bad reputation follows ou around like that.

  7. Ian Johnston Silver badge

    Have the warders at Belmarsh told him they are wearing masks while in fact they aren't?

  8. J27

    Assange has proven to be a flight risk, so he should stay where he is.

    1. LucreLout

      Assange has proven to be a flight risk, so he should stay where he is.

      If he stays in jail he might get Covid and if he does he might die. If he is released from jail he might get Covid and if he does he might die, but either way, he WILL definitely run. We already know that as he's quite extensive form on that.

      The entire situation is one of his own making. He didn't have to do whatever he did to end up with rape accusations. He didn't have to flee the investigation and subject himself to a 7 year lockdown. He didn't have to do whatever he did to warrant an extradition request. He's a self made man in every respect - so frankly if he doesn't like what he has become, and if he doesn't like his current situation, he needs to own it and reflect that at each and every stage this was played for and got.

      No tears.

      1. @digikoolaid

        No rape occurred. You've been listening to the propaganda machine again.

    2. @digikoolaid

      The last flight Julian took was British Airways. Other than that he has flown nowhere. He asked for, and was granted, asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. Where did you get that "flight" fantasy ??

      1. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

        "Where did you get that 'flight' fantasy ??"

        Flight risk is not literally a flight as in aircraft flight risk - it means going somewhere else when you've been told to stay in a certain place. The Cambridge dictionary defines it as:

        "someone who has been accused of a crime and is considered likely to try to escape out of the country or area before their trial begins."

        Julian was told to stay at his bail address in the English countryside, but took off to the embassy in London.

        C.

  9. Psmo
    Go

    As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

    If bail is set at a few tens of millions as a contribution towards the spending for his last bail jumping escapade, I don't see an issue.

    1. Andrew Norton

      Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

      it was a quarter-million last time, didn't stop him, because it's not HIS money. Supporters are people for him to use as long as he can, then discard when no longer of benefit to him (usually calling them a traitor, or a turncoat, or something similar)

      1. streaky

        Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

        Wasn't even their money - they weren't required to forfeit the bail money which is *nuts*.

        1. BebopWeBop

          Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

          Really? Do you have any evidence of that?

        2. Psmo
          Alert

          Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

          Supporters (including his Wikileaks assistants) got between 20% and 60% reduction on the sum promised, but they did pay a bit: Ref

          This time anyone putting up money must know what they're getting into, so the courts would be better placed to grab the lot.

          1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

            Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

            "This time anyone putting up money must know what they're getting into"

            Given that he was already doing a runner last time they should have had a reasonable idea. It's difficult to see why they didn't get charged the full amount. There's no point setting bail if it's not to be forfeit in full.

            1. Psmo
              Terminator

              Re: As long as UK.gov keeps the money this time

              Well, the reduced amount was decided by the judge, so I can't really comment on that; if ever I find myself on the hook, I'd like the courts to take into account changing circumstances.

              As much as I like the purity of a system that straps you down and holds you to account irrespective, we've already got enough of those in our lives.

              Can't let the robots take over completely.

  10. Claverhouse
    Mushroom

    Incompetent Also...

    By a couple of days ago --- whilst prison-states like Iran and Turkey have released one third of their inmates, about 100,000 each so far, and France is releasing 1000s --- the grand hoopla from the British on their mercy has so far released 33 people in England and Wales; and America and it's states has been equally parsimonious.

    The chance of such a dangerous and wicked international criminal as Julian being freed is as likely as was Charles Manson who did great crimes of an equivalent magnitude. Or one of those demonic French serial killers who had an appointment with Madame Guillotine.

    .

    Anglos are vindictive and hate anyone not being punished. Even for dropping a crisp packet.

    .

    .

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/27/only-33-prisoners-in-england-and-wales-released-under-anti-coronavirus-measures

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/world/americas/coronavirus-brazil-prisons.html

    1. martinusher Silver badge

      Re: Incompetent Also...

      We've actually released a lot more than a trickle of prisoners in California due to a proposition passed in 2018 that downgraded a lot of minor crimes, the process being necessary due to gross overcrowding in our prison system. More recently we've been trying to get people released who are on remand; these aren't dangerous felons but just poor people who can't afford cash bail or to pay a bail bonding company. This has met stiff resistance from -- you guessed it -- the bonding companies but the virus emergency provided DAs with the ability to kick out people by reducing their bail to 0$.

      As for Assange, we live in 'democracies', dammit. We don't hold people indefinitely in solitary confinement in maximum security prisons, that's what totalitarian states like Iran does. Everyone knows that we're respecting Assange's rights, we are giving him due process and so on and even the Tooth Fairy agrees that we couldn't be more open and transparent.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Incompetent Also...

        Ahem..

        https://www.amnestyusa.org/the-shocking-abuse-of-solitary-confinement-in-u-s-prisons/

        Want to try again?

      2. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

        Re: Incompetent Also...

        As for Assange, we live in 'democracies', dammit. We don't hold people indefinitely in solitary confinement in maximum security prisons, that's what totalitarian states like Iran does. Everyone knows that we're respecting Assange's rights, we are giving him due process and so on and even the Tooth Fairy agrees that we couldn't be more open and transparent. .... martinusher

        Hmmm? That sort of Donald Trumpian disinfectant grade sarcasm is problematic, martinusher, for some folk may actually believe it to be true and honest whenever surely so clearly not? And it has been particular effective in easily completely ruining the reputation of the justice system and judges in the UK., which is real bad and quite sad, don't you think?

    2. streaky

      Re: Incompetent Also...

      whilst prison-states like Iran and Turkey have released one third of their inmates

      Yeah when you're locking people up for literally no reason you can do this - Assange isn't locked up for no reason. If he hadn't fought the extradition which always was and always will go through because he has no viable legal argument then he'd be in the US and you never know he might have been bailed - I doubt it but it's possible. Sure as hell aint happening here.

      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Re: Incompetent Also...

        Exactly. It's worth remembering that both of those states are in the habit of locking up "dissidents" and anyone else who might be linked to them such as friends or family. Especially after the failed coup in Turkey when many, many 1000's were arrested and locked away for the slightest possible hint that they knew someone involved.

  11. streaky
    Thumb Down

    LUL

    Yeah here's a man who will ever get bail in any country ever again. Not.

    We got plenty enough capacity to hold this man.

    1. @digikoolaid

      Re: LUL

      Further imprisonment of Julian Assange is illegal. He has served his full sentence for a minor bail infringement and should be released.

  12. Neoc

    Why?

    Why should *he* get furloughed? What makes Assange so different from all the other detainees who swear that they are wrongfully detained?

    "Because he's Assange" is not a good enough reason.

    1. Michael Wojcik Silver badge

      Re: Why?

      Exactly. I'm no fan of incarceration, a system which in the US, and I would guess in the UK as well, is wildly abused, excessive, and unjust. But what makes Assange, an overrated relentless self-promoter who clearly puts self-interest first, and is patently guilty of the crime he's actually being punished for, deserving of this special treatment?

      1. @digikoolaid

        Re: Why?

        Julian has already served his full sentence for a minor bail infringement and should be released. Why is the UK treating him as special by endless imprisonment ??

  13. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

    Sub-Prime Lap Dog Parliamentary Political Prisoners R Us .....

    .... is a Hellishly Novel Crowning Confection in a Corrupt and Inept and Diseased SysAdmin

    Crikey, Gareth, that was a very disappointing and enlightening screed which would do a rookie Integrity Initiative, the 77th Brigade, Bellingcat, and an Atlantic Council puff-piece, to name but four, proud.

    'Tis though not something I would normally have expected to see and read about on El Reg with such a poisoned view so clearly expressed.

    After all, it is not as if Assange is responsible for killing random men, women and children from an Apache helicopter gunship, is it, or scarpering offside to a friendly foreign homeland to escape justice for the admitted vehicular manslaughter of a complete innocent on a country road outside a UK US Airbase, although how very strange and perverse it is that the UK finds all of that so very acceptable and almost as if normal rather than indicative of a failed fascist stylised state.

    It sure is a mad, mad, mad, mad world and getting even crazier day by day and 0day by 0day. Nice to see you are on board for the helter skelter rides.

    However, nevertheless, lo and behold, you do appear to have a few fans amongst El Reg commentards, Gareth, if you can judge them by their replies on this thread. That's always usually considered encouraging.

    1. FilenotFound

      Re: Sub-Prime Lap Dog Parliamentary Political Prisoners R Us .....

      How long has it been since this thing started sounding like it makes sense?!

      1. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

        Re: Sub-Prime Lap Dog Parliamentary Political Prisoners R Us .....

        How long has it been since this thing started sounding like it makes sense ‽ FilenotFound

        For quite a while now, FilenotFound, with all the evidence already clearly enough presented to prove it.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    If you want to know what's happening in the ongoing Assange saga ...

    ... then follow the developments on Craig Murray's blog, before they lock him up as well (for the Crime of being an Independent Journalist).

    1. gazthejourno (Written by Reg staff)

      Re: If you want to know what's happening in the ongoing Assange saga ...

      The alleged crime of committing contempt of court, you mean? Further details, albeit brief, available from The Times.

      1. Intractable Potsherd

        Re: If you want to know what's happening in the ongoing Assange saga ...

        Thanks, Gaz - I hadn't looked at Craig's blog for a few days and missed that. Ah, well - time to donate to a very good cause (Craig's defence fund).

        1. Intractable Potsherd

          Re: If you want to know what's happening in the ongoing Assange saga ...

          Craig Murray's defence fund can be found here: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2020/04/craig-murray-defence-fund-launched/

    2. Intractable Potsherd

      Re: If you want to know what's happening in the ongoing Assange saga ...

      And add Grouse Beater for added sauce (https://grousebeater.wordpress.com/)

  15. Zare

    He needs to be made an example of for potential future whistle-blowers, and brits are just doing what they have been told. Nothing new to see here.

  16. clyde666

    time marches on

    It's time to stop treating Assange as if he was the greatest threat to humanity.

    1. onemark03

      Re: time marches on

      Julian Assange just pissed Uncle Sam off and Uncle Sam is reacting vindictively.

      Then again, Uncle Sam always was vindictive.

      1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

        Re: time marches on

        Actually there was no US extradition warrant out for him when he skipped bail. I rather think that the previous US administration had realised that ignoring him would be a sufficient punishment.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: time marches on

          And Trump promised to reverse all of Obamas policies and decisions, so he's just keeping his spiteful promise.

        2. @digikoolaid

          Re: time marches on

          Julian has been proven correct that a secret Grand Jury existed at the time for the purpose of rendering him to the USA.

    2. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      Re: time marches on

      The greatest threat to Assange seems to be Assange. If he hadn't skipped from Sweden he could have served whatever time he was due there and then moved on to wherever would be prepared to take him.

      Instead, although there wasn't even a US extradition warrant against him, under the pretext of avoiding extradition to the US he fled to the UK where it would have been much easier for him to have been extradited to the US if they'd asked - which they hadn't. So he then took the extraordinary step of skipping bail, to the detriment of those who'd supported him with bail and hiding in an embassy from which there was no chance of escape without being rearrested. He stated there until (a) there was a US extradition warrant and (b) the Swedish process (which still had first dibbs on him) was pretty well exhausted.

      1. LucreLout

        Re: time marches on

        The greatest threat to Assange seems to be Assange.

        It always has been.

        When Assange leaves prison, the only debate is where the plane goes - Australia, or America. I can't see any way that he won't get extradited after all the sticking his fingers up at the country. Frankly, as long as the plane takes off, I really don't mind where it goes.

        This country must not become a safe haven for alleged rapists trying to flee the law. That the left get their pants in such a twist of Trump while at the same time completely ignoring Assanges behavior will become a textbook example for studies of cognitive dissonance in the year to come.

        1. @digikoolaid

          Re: time marches on

          There never was a rape. Where did you get that mistaken idea ??

    3. Michael Wojcik Silver badge

      Re: time marches on

      It's time to stop treating him as if he were special, full stop.

      1. @digikoolaid

        Re: time marches on

        Julian is special. Just ask the USA and UK. They have singled him out from all the other publishers and journalists.

  17. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    son of British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood

    who?

  18. HatHatHatHatHat

    It pains me to say this, but he would have been treated better in Russia..

    1. Stratman

      Then again, anyone who spilled American secrets would be treated pretty well in Russia.

      1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

        Maybe. He and wikileaks are an equal opportunities secrets spiller.

      2. @digikoolaid

        Is there a reason murdering children, journalists and unarmed civilians from a helicopter gunship is secret ??

  19. Man inna barrel

    Julian Assange is just another prisoner

    There are plenty of prisoners who should be given priority when it comes to early release on license, in order to mitigate the effects of a Covid-19 outbreak in prisons. There is a sizeable elderly population in prison, and there are many prisoners with bad health, who would be more at risk from Covid-19. I do not see Julian Assange fitting into these categories. Also, his previous behaviour indicates that he is likely to try to escape justice if released from prison, which would be a no-no for any consideration of early release, I believe.

  20. @digikoolaid

    Julian Assange should not be "furloughed" from Belmarsh prison. He should be released.

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