Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has broken his silence after 12 years of being deprived of freedom. He emphasized that he can now move around without fear of being arrested or extradited to the United States, not because the system worked, but because he gave in to pressure and pleaded guilty to conducting journalism.
“Journalism is not a crime”
Assange made these remarks during a hearing in France, where he urged institutions to prevent what happened to him from occurring again in the future. This appearance marked his first trip outside Australia since his release in June. Assange revealed part of the agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that restricts his ability to challenge the harassment he endured.
Dressed in a suit and accompanied by his wife, Assange spoke for an hour, expressing the toll that over a decade of isolation had taken on him. Despite difficulties, he emphasized the importance of free journalism in society.
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