Assange Lawyers To Publish Defence Online

By Jerry Smith Feb 7 2011
assangewatch.blogspot.com

Lawyers for Julian Assange say they will take the unusual step of publishing his entire defence on the firm’s home page at 10am on Monday.

Mr Assange is due to appear in a London court Monday and Tuesday to decide if he is going to be extradited to Sweden.

Mr Assange’s laywer Mark Stephens said:

“We’re intending to put our defence argument on my firm’s home page at 10am."

“You will see some pretty fundamental challenges to the European Arrest Warrant scheme."

“The EAW is meant for people who have been charged and are facing trial. There is a separate scheme, which should be used in cases like this, where someone is wanted for questioning."

“The fact that this isn’t happening is something I find really worrying.”

A synopsis of the defence's case already published by Assange's lawyers states:

“There is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the US will seek his extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere…there is a real risk that he could be made subject to the death penalty.”

Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning pertaining to accusations of rape and sexual molestation brought against him by Sofia Wilen and Anna Ardin, which Assange denies.

Mr Assange’s lawyers plan to argue that extraditing Assange to Sweden will violate his human rights because Sweden has previously extradited suspects to countries that have been accused of torture like Egypt.