President Joe Biden has surprised the world by declaring his opposition to the extradition of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, to the US, where he faces espionage charges for exposing US war crimes and secrets.
Biden, who was expected to follow the policy of his predecessor Donald Trump, who sought to prosecute Assange, said that he had changed his mind after reading some of the leaked documents and watching the award-winning documentary “The Dissident”.
He said that he was “deeply moved” by the courage and sacrifice of Assange, who he called “a hero, not a criminal”. According to him, Assange had done a “great service” to the world by revealing the truth and exposing the corruption and injustice of the powerful.
US President also praised the role of Assange in exposing the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist who was killed and dismembered by a Saudi hit squad in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.
Biden said that he had instructed his Justice Department to drop the charges against Assange and to release him from the British prison where he is being held. He also said that he had invited Assange to the White House for a meeting and a medal ceremony.
Biden’s statement has caused a stir among the US political and media establishment, who have accused him of being soft on national security and betraying the interests of the US. Some have even called for his impeachment or resignation.
Assange, who has been suffering from poor health and psychological torture, has welcomed Biden’s statement and thanked him for his support. He said that he was looking forward to meeting Biden and discussing the future of journalism and democracy.