Free At Last: Julian Assange

Assange’s legal troubles seem to be over, but the fight over information, data privacy, and censorship continues.

“Protesters rallied outside Belmarsh Prison on 22 January in solidarity with those detained, including activists angered by Julian Assange’s continued detention, others demanding an end to solitary confinement and an end to the unjust law of “joint enterprise” and also to mark the international Transgender Prisoner Day of Action and Solidarity.” January 23, 2022. (Photo: Alisdare Hickson)

“Julian Assange is free,” tweeted a triumphant Wikileaks on June 24, 2024.

“He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of 24 June, after having spent 1901 days there,” shared the platform. “He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted airport during the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.”

“This is the result of a global campaign that spanned grass-roots organisers, press freedom campaigners, legislators and leaders from across the political spectrum, all the way to the United Nations,” Wikileaks added.

“After more than five years in a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours a day, he will soon reunite with his wife Stella Assange, and their children, who have only known their father from behind bars,” the statement continued. “WikiLeaks published groundbreaking stories of government corruption and human rights abuses, holding the powerful accountable for their actions. As editor-in-chief, Julian paid severely for these principles, and for the people’s right to know. As he returns to Australia, we thank all who stood by us, fought for us, and remained utterly committed in the fight for his freedom. Julian’s freedom is our freedom.”