WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has taken refuge in Ecuador’s embassy
in London and asked for asylum. Assange made the move Tuesday in a
last-ditch bid to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex crime
accusations. Earlier today, police in London announced Assange is now
subject to arrest because his decision to spend the night at the
Ecuadorian embassy violated the conditions of his bail. Assange is
seeking asylum because he fears extradition to Sweden may lead to his
transfer to the United States, where he could potentially face charges
relating to WikiLeaks. "In my view, it is a situation of political
persecution of Julian Assange for his political activities," says
Michael Ratner, a member of Assange’s legal team. "It does fit within
the asylum application procedure under the Declaration of Human Rights."
In an apparent reference to the United States, an Ecuadorian official
said Assange fears being extradited "to a country where espionage and
treason are punished with the death penalty."Video
Source: Democracy Now!
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