The WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by the United Kingdom and Sweden since he was arrested...
The WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by the United Kingdom and Sweden since he was arrested in 2010 and that he should be allowed to leave Ecuador's Embassy in London without facing arrest.
In a statement, the U.N.'s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, called on both countries “to end Mr. Assange’s deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation.”It said Assange's initial detention in a London prison, his subsequent house arrest and "confinement" at the embassy deprived him of liberty.
Assange has been holed up in Ecuador's Embassy in London since June 2012. If he steps outside, British police said he would immediately be arrested and face extradition to Sweden and the United States. Sweden is seeking his extradition because Assange is accused of being involved in a suspected rape case, an allegation he denies.
Assange had faced three other sexual assault charges in the country, but they expired in August because of the statute of limitations.
The U.S. Justice Department has sought Assange's extradition because they want to charge him with espionage
The U.K. said it will formally contest the panel's decision.
"This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention," .
"An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise ‘diplomatic asylum’.
Assange said Thursday he would leave the embassy at noon Friday and allow British police to arrest him if the panel ruled against him.
