NUJ welcomes release of Julian Assange
The union has welcomed reports indicating Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with US authorities.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said:
“The release of Julian Assange, after a hard-fought campaign by journalists worldwide, signifies the final stages of an ordeal he has faced for several years. This plea deal is a hopeful beacon for Assange and his family in a case the NUJ has condemned from the start, for its wide-ranging ramifications for journalists exposing truths through their reporting.
“The targeting and persecution of journalists in this way is one that underscores the need to defend journalism and the methods used daily, including when cultivating a source.
“Collectively, we must do all that is necessary to protect press freedom and continue to resist efforts threatening the safety of journalists. As the NUJ continues to monitor developments, I hope this juncture leads to a more concrete end to the nightmare experienced by Assange."
Wikileaks reports Julian Assange boarded a flight from Stansted airport on 24th June. It is understood a court in Saipan, an island in the Northern Mariana Islands, is where Assange will enter a guilty plea deal but is unlikely to be imprisoned, with his five years in Belmarsh prison considered time served instead.
IFJ representatives protest in support of Assange at Belmarsh prison on 18 June.
© Tim Dawson