Julian Assange's 'life being put at risk' in prison warns UN expert

Julian Assange's treatment is putting his life "at risk," a UN rights expert claimed, as the whistleblower fenced-in UK's Belmarsh prison faces the threat of extradition from Britain to the United States. Warning about the health conditions of the WikiLeaks co-founder, UN's Nils Melzer said that Julian Assange's "life is not in danger."

The UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, categorically pointed at the "inhumane situation" the whistleblower is being subjected to in the UK prison. "Unless the UK urgently changes course and alleviates his inhumane situation, Assange's continued exposure to arbitrariness and abuse may soon end up costing his life," the independent UN expert said. 

The UN expert Nils Melzer had visited Julian Assange in Belmarsh prison in May after the whistleblower was dragged out of the London's Ecuadorian embassy by the British Police after being holed up there for 7 years with his cat and a skateboard. Subsequent to the visit, the UN expert had asserted that Assange is afflicted with "physical health problems" and showed prominent signs of  "all the typical symptoms of prolonged exposure to psychological torture, chronic anxiety, and intense psychological trauma."

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Despite his urge to the UK government to take instant measures to protect the health and dignity of Julian Assange, the UN expert asserted that the Western country has failed to do so. He said, "However, what we have seen from the UK Government is outright contempt for (Julian) Assange's rights and integrity. Despite the medical urgency of my appeal and the seriousness of the alleged violations, the UK has not undertaken any measures of investigation, prevention, and redress required under international law."

He further contended that Julian Assange "continues to be detained under oppressive conditions of isolation and surveillance, not justified by his detention status." The UN expert has appealed to London to stop Julian Assange's extradition and demanded that "he be promptly released and allowed to recover his health and rebuild his personal and professional life."

Julian Assange extradition 

The WikiLeaks publisher looks in the face of US extradition after being prosecuted by the government for publishing information that divulged war crimes, serious human rights violations, abuse, torture, and murder.  Along with the Nils Melzer, experts and supporters across the world have maintained that Julian Assange's access to legal counsel and documents have been blocked. Undermining his fundamental right to prepare for his defense against the US extradition, a week ago, the whistleblower lost his legal bid to extend the US extradition hearing scheduled for February 2020. 

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During his appearance before London's Court last week, Julian Assange while raised his fist to greet his supporters encircling the Court, he looked visibly frail and in a bewildered state. According to reports from inside the Court, the WikiLeaks publisher 'struggled to say his own name and date of birth,' and reportedly holding back his tears said, "I can't think properly." Julian Assange is charged with the US Espionage Act for publishing a mass cache of military and diplomatic documents back in 2010.

WikiLeaks 

Wikileaks, an anti-secrecy organisation, was founded in 2006 as a platform for whistleblowers to release classified information anonymously. By 2015, Wikileaks became a portal to publish over 10 million documents, including top-secret documents.  Ever since its launch in 2006, Wikileaks has published thousands of classified documents, disclosing the details from national security, war, politics to the film industry.