As part of the international mobilisation to apply pressure on the US government to end the persecution of Julian Assange, MeRA25 invited members of Greece’s Parliament to co-sign the letter below, addressed to President Biden.
The letter reminds the US President that, as Obama’s Vice-President, he took the decision not to prosecute Julian. Indeed, the prosecution – and request to the UK authorities that he be extradited to the US – went ahead under President Trump. The letter also reminds Mr Biden that Julian is fading daily in solitary confinement because his Department of Justice chose to appeal a British court’s verdict not to extradite him to the US – and, thus, calls upon him to drop all charges and rescind Julian’s persecution.
Similar letters have been sent to the US President by British and Australian MPs, including some representing the two countries’ conservative parties. In this spirit, MeRA25 invited MPs from all wings of Greece’s Parliament to join its 9 MPs as co-signatories – an invitation that SYRIZA MPs accepted. [Nb. Conservative New Democracy and the former PASOK party did not reply, while the Communist Party of Greece refused the request.]
The significance of freeing Julian and ending his persecution cannot be overstated. By subjecting him to a slow death, the powers behind his incarceration are targeting the right of Europeans and Americans to know about the crimes perpetrated in their name and behind their back by their governments, with the help of corporates.
The struggle to free Julian is also a struggle to prevent the dying of the last hope that barbarism can be resisted.