ioerror

Jacob Appelbaum · @ioerror

20th Jun 2012 from Twitlonger

I wrote this letter in support of Julian Assange and submitted it to the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK by web form: http://www.ecuadorembassyuk.org.uk/contact

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This letter is intended to reach the government of Ecuador.

I am writing as someone who has suffered immense harassment at the hands of the United States government because of my associations with Julian Assange, a dear and personal friend. My case is well documented and if you require additional information, I will gladly provide it.

I believe that the Swedish and British governments are acting with the malice of forethought, knowing that the US wishes to persecute Julian Assange, and that the request to extradite Julian is in bad faith. Sweden has taken every measure to hinder justice in this matter.

I know for a fact that a US Grand Jury has been seriously investigating WikiLeaks - it is thought at this time that there is a sealed indictment against Julian. The documents that I have seen with regard to this Grand Jury state that it is an investigation relating to the espionage act - a famously brutal, cruel and unjust law.

Under this law, in my country, people, such as Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death and the sentence was carried out. They are not alone and we must not allow Julian Assange to join them.

In this US Grand Jury, people have been compelled to testify and threatened with (implied indefinite) detention for refusal to cooperate.

Julian's organization, his friends, his acquaintances and even some of his media partners are specifically being targeted for harassment and more, above and beyond reason. WikiLeaks is facing unbelievable hardships as a journalistic organization. The New York Times, the Washington Post and others have not suffered under these kinds of threats relating to WikiLeaks. These attacks on Julian are specifically an attempt to undermine WikiLeaks, a contextual matter that should not be dismissed.

I firmly believe that if he is not granted asylum and he finds himself in my country, the United States, he would not be treated fairly. His own country, save Senator Scott Ludlam of the Australian Greens, has abandoned their duty to protect Julian.

I urge you to grant Julian Assange asylum - it may be a matter of life and death.

Sincerely,
Jacob Appelbaum

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