WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange To Address Cambridge University Students

By Jerry Smith Mar 8 2011
assangewatch.blogspot.com

Julian Assange will be addressing Cambridge University students on Tuesday March 15th at 5pm at the Union.

Assange is expected to discuss his life and career while speaking to the Cambridge Union Society, one of the oldest student debating societies.

This will be Assange's first public appearance, not including his satellite appearance at the Young Presidents' Association's Global Leadership Summit or his court appearances, in four months and his first appearance since Judge Howard Riddle's ruling last week that Assange should be extradited to Sweden.

University members have the opportunity to meet Assange after he speaks. Applications for this are already open, and should be sent to the president, Lauren Davidson, by Wednesday.

After Assange speaks to the students Professor Niall Ferguson will speak at 7:30pm. Doors will open at 4pm, and a large turnout is expected.

Riddle felt that Assange, who is still under house arrest at Ellingham Hall in Norfolk,UK, should be extradited to Sweden because he felt Assange could get a fair trial in Sweden and that his extradition to Sweden would not violate his human rights.

Assange has been fighting extradition to Sweden where he has not been charged with anything but is wanted for questioning by the Swedish police about accusations of rape and sexual molestation made against him by Sofia Wilen and Anna Ardin. Assange denies the allegations and says he had consensual sex with the two women.

Lawyers for Julian Assange have filed an appeal against Judge Howard Riddle's ruling earlier this week, but no date has yet been set for a hearing.

Assange said:

"There was no consideration during this entire process as to the merit of the allegations made against me, no consideration or examination of even the complaints made in Sweden and of course we have always known we would appeal."

Assange and his lawyers fear that if he is extradited to Sweden he may then be extradited to the United States, where he could face torture, confinement at Guantanamo Bay, both, or even the death penalty.