Send letters to any of the following officials listed below and express your support for Julian Assange. Because the extradition Assange currently faces involves the US as the requesting state and the UK as the host requested state, we list contact information for officials in both countries. Please send as many messages or letters as you can. Those who wish to present factual information as backup may wish to consider the following points:
- Enshrined in the US/UK Treaty on Extradition, there are two prohibitions to extraditing persons from the host state to the requester state. Article 4.1 of the treaty states that “Extradition shall not be granted if the offense for which extradition is requested is a political offense.”
Suggestion: You can augment your letter of support with quotes by US officials. For just one example: Assange “will soon be held to account for his meddling in our elections on behalf of Putin and the Russian government” (Charles Schumer, Senate DNY) presents clear evidence that Assange is viewed as a political actor.
- Article 7 of the treaty states that: “the executive authority in the Requested State may refuse extradition unless the Requesting State provides an assurance that the death penalty will not be imposed or, if imposed, will not be carried out.”
Suggestion: According to reports, the US already made assurances it will not seek the death penalty for Assange during negotiations with Ecuador to revoke his asylum. Stressing broader prison conditions in the U.S. will likely be more effective, as they were factors in the UK’s refusals to extradite both Lauri Love and Gary MacKinnon.
- Article 3 of the European Conventions of Human Rights (ECHR) states that an extradition can proceed only under the “Prohibition of torture, or inhuman or degrading treatment.” Point 30 of the convention underscores that article 3 is “An absolute, non-derogable right.”
Suggestion: For additional information see resource material below contact names:
US CONGRESS MEMBERS:
https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
UK OFFICIALS:
Priti Patel, Home Secretary
WithamMP@parliamen
Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Priti Patel, Home Secretary
Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Sir Richard Heaton
Executive of the Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France Westminster
London SW1 HUK
Richard.Heaton@justice.gov.uk
Phil Wates
Pre-Court South London Magistrates Courts
1 London Road
Bromley
Kent BR1 1RA
philip.wates@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk
Chair: Andrew Young
Pre-Court South London Magistrates Courts
1 London Road
Bromley
Kent BR1 1RA
andrew.young@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk
MEMBERS OF THE UK SHADOW CABINET:
Lyn Brown Shadow Secretary for Prisons and Probation
brownl@parliament.uk
David Lammy, Shadow Justice Secretary
mail@davidlammy.co.uk
media enquiries please contact: media@davidlammy.co.uk
Jonathan Ashworth, continues as Shadow Health Secretary.
jon.ashworth.mp@parliament.uk
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, responsibility for mental health joins the shadow health team
rosena.allinkhan.mp@parliament.uk
Nick Thomas-Symonds MP Shadow Home Secretary
nick.thomassymonds.mp@parliament.uk
Ellie Reeves, Shadow Solicitor General – role to scrutinize the actions of the Attorney General. (The AG legally advises government)
ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition
keir.starmer.mp@parliament.uk
Anneliese Dodds, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
anneliese.dodds.mp@parliament.uk
RESOURCES
EVIDENCE OF AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED POLITICAL CASE:
Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell Visits Assange
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/feb/20/julian-assange-case-is-the-dreyfus-of-our-age-says-john-mcdonnell
Reporters without Borders: UK drops in status in part due to Assange
https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/uk-drops-to-35-in-world-press-freedom-index
EVIDENCE OF PRISON CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES:
SAMs REPORT: Special Administrative Measures. If extradited, Julian Assange will be placed under the provision of SAM.
https://ccrjustice.org/sams-report
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=174&v=zm-e2SuP4V8&feature=emb_logo
VIDEO: United States: Force Against Prisoners with Mental Illness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=141&v=OCaKethFbEg
or go to webpage:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/12/united-states-force-against-prisoners-mental-illness
ARTICLES:
https://www.amnestyusa.org/the-shocking-abuse-of-solitary-confinement-in-u-s-prisons/
https://www.amnestyusa.org/files/amr510402014en.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/el-chapo-guzman-harsh-prison-conditions-new-york
https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/05/12/united-states-force-against-prisoners-mental-illness
Entombed Amnesty international:
www.amnestyUSA.org/reports/entombed-isolation-in-the-US-federal-prison-system/