Mednarodna izjava novinarjev v podporo Julianu Assangu

Neformalna skupina novinarjev z več kontinentov je 6. decembra 2019 objavila izjavo v podporo Julianu Assangu: https://speak-up-for-assange.org/

Zdaj gre še za veliko večje stvari, kot so svoboda tiska, izražanja in spoštovanje osnovnih človekovih pravic. Izjavo sta že podpisala generalna sekretarja IFJ in EFJ,  skupaj že okoli 820 novinarjev iz najmanj 65 držav.

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A group of journalists from various countries have launched an international statement in defence of Julian Assange.

I am writing to ask if you can please share the news of the statement with your members.

Leading journalists from dozens of countries have already signed the statement https://speak-up-for-assange.org and we are sure that many of your members would like the opportunity to sign as well.

The wording of the statement explains carefully why this issue is so important for all journalists.

As you will be aware, the US Government is attempting to extradite Assange to the United States and charge him under the Espionage Act. He faces a 175 year prison sentence. These charges are for publishing the Afghanistan and Iraq war diaries and the trove of US embassy cables, information that has a very high public interest, for instance revealing war crimes.

Many of us reported the revelations and used the information in our investigations. Thus Assange faces (indeed already lives with) massive punishment for publishing leaks that all journalists would want to report to the public. But most importantly, if the US and other countries can extradite and impose espionage charges on those who publish leaks, it is a threat to media organisations and journalists everywhere. Why not the Guardian and any other media organisations next?  In short, this issue goes to the heart of publishers’ and journalists’ role and protections in society.

We hope, therefore, that you can give your members the opportunity to join us and sign the statement.

Hashtag for social media distribution is: #JournalistsSpeakUpForAssange

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