For British justice, WikiLeaks is a "press organ"

in #wikileaks7 years ago

A recognition that could further complicate the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, whose Constitution protects journalists.
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"WikiLeaks is a press organ. This is what WikiLeaks claims on its website. This is also the argument that asserted Julian Assange for years, thus justifying the impossibility of extradition to the United States, whose Constitution protects journalists.
But if the United States denies the status of journalist to the co-founder of Wikileaks, the British justice has just made a contrary opinion, says the British newspaper The Guardian. In a document released on Thursday, a British appeals court explains that "WikiLeaks is a news organization that publishes and comments on censored or confidential official documents concerning war, mass surveillance or corruption."

The judgment concerned the appeal of Stefania Maurizi, journalist for La Repubblica, requesting the publication of documents about Mr. Assange and his possible extradition. Once again dismissed, however, she welcomed, through the voice of her representative Estelle Dehon, the court "recognize that the case raises the issue of human rights and freedom of the press."
Recognition that could complicate the task of the United States. Several federal investigations into the relationship between Russia and the Trump team have focused on individuals who had contact with Julian Assange.