The Persecution of WikiLeaks
Australian meetings to call for Julian Assange’s freedom
By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 20 April 2018
The Australian political and media establishment bears major responsibility for the outrages perpetrated against Julian Assange.
John Pilger and Julian Burnside denounce silencing of WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange
By Niles Niemuth, 12 April 2018
The WikiLeaks founder and publisher has been cut off from all access to the outside world for more two weeks by the Ecuadorian government under pressure from the United States and its allies.
Bloomberg: Ecuador cut Assange’s Internet to win “good graces of international investors”
By Eric London, 12 April 2018
President Lenin Moreno is working with the Trump administration to increase US military and economic influence in South America.
Two weeks since WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange silenced by Ecuador
By Niles Niemuth, 11 April 2018
It is no coincidence that Assange has been shut off from any form of communication with the outside world as the US and its allies prepare for an escalation of war in Syria and beyond.
“The people are behind you!”
Students, faculty and staff at University of Michigan oppose persecution of Julian Assange
By Zac Corrigan, 3 April 2018
On Monday, an IYSSE campaign team spoke to students and faculty at the University of Michigan about the confinement and persecution of Julian Assange.
Why has Ecuador silenced Julian Assange?
By Bill Van Auken, 31 March 2018
The Ecuadorian government’s measures to silence Assange are bound up with a sharp turn to the right by the governments of a number of countries associated with Latin America’s so-called “Pink Tide.”
Protesters denounce silencing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 30 March 2018
The Ecuadorian Embassy’s decision to sever all communication between Assange and the outside world is an illegal and vindictive act of political persecution.
Ecuador cuts off Julian Assange’s access to the outside world
By Mike Head, 29 March 2018
Julian Assange’s confinement in the Ecuadoran embassy increasingly resembles that of a prisoner.
British judge refuses to overturn Julian Assange’s arrest warrant
By Paul Mitchell, 14 February 2018
Lawyers for Assange argued the warrant should be revoked because Sweden dropped its extradition warrant last year and that arresting him was no longer “proportionate” or “in the public interest.”
Britain warned Sweden not to drop Assange extradition proceedings
By Paul Mitchell, 13 February 2018
The UK remains determined to arrest journalist Julian Assange, who is trapped in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, in relation to trumped-up “sexual assault” charges.
Julian Assange loses initial bid to overturn British arrest warrant
By Mike Head, 7 February 2018
Even if the judge withdraws the warrant next week, Assange still faces extradition to the US to be tried on trumped-up charges of espionage and treason.
Julian Assange challenges warrant for his arrest as doctors confirm worsening of his health
By Margot Miller, 27 January 2018
The clinicians, with a combined four decades of experience, said Assange's "continued confinement" is "a clear infringement of his human right to healthcare.”
Statement by Julian Assange opposing Internet censorship will be read at WSWS “Organizing Resistance” Webinar
16 January 2018
The webinar featuring David North and Chris Hedges will be broadcast live on January 16 at 7:00 pm EST.
Freedom for Julian Assange!
By Bill Van Auken, 11 January 2018
The “untenable” conditions under which the WikiLeaks founder remains confined are the product of an unrelenting drive by the US and British governments to punish him for exposing the crimes of imperialism.
Trudeau government bans Chelsea Manning from entering Canada
By Tom Hall, 26 September 2017
Ottawa’s justification for barring Chelsea Manning amounts to a declaration that whistleblowers in the Canadian military can expect the same horrific treatment meted out to Manning.
CIA vetoes Chelsea Manning’s Harvard fellowship
By Eric London, 16 September 2017
After a quarter century of war, there is hardly a decision made in any of the official institutions of bourgeois power where the military and intelligence agencies do not have the final say.
Sweden’s investigation into Julian Assange was a political frame-up from the outset
By David Walsh, 20 May 2017
The entire affair was aimed at discrediting and paralyzing WikiLeaks and creating conditions under which Assange could be extradited or abducted to the US, to be executed or condemned to a lifetime in prison.
Sweden drops bogus investigation, but Julian Assange threatened with extradition to US
By Robert Stevens, 20 May 2017
The case against the WikiLeaks founder was concocted from the beginning so he could be sent from Sweden to the US.
WikiLeaks’ lawyers sharply criticize Laura Poitras’ documentary Risk
By David Walsh, 19 May 2017
Poitras’ film about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, the four lawyers contend, undermines the credibility of the organization at a critical moment and exposes the documentary’s subjects “to considerable legal jeopardy.”
Chelsea Manning released amid growing attacks on democratic rights in the US
By Bill Van Auken, 18 May 2017
Manning’s seven-year imprisonment at the hands of the US military was the most draconian sentence ever served for leaking classified documents.
Whistleblower Chelsea Manning to be released from prison today
By Genevieve Leigh, 17 May 2017
Manning has served seven years in prison, frequently under brutal conditions, for leaking evidence to WikiLeaks exposing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Risk: Laura Poitras’ confused, superficial documentary about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks
By David Walsh and Joanne Laurier, 11 May 2017
The film broaches a dozen subjects and avoids treating any of them in depth, and often fails to take a clear position of any kind.
FBI director threatens WikiLeaks and Assange
By Patrick Martin, 4 May 2017
James Comey complained that WikiLeaks, unlike the American media, does not work with the US intelligence community to protect its secrets.
US steps up campaign against Julian Assange
By Barry Grey, 22 April 2017
The World Socialist Web Site condemns the reported preparations of the US Justice Department to charge WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with espionage and issue an arrest warrant against him.
US preparing to seek the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
By Kevin Reed, 21 April 2017
According to a press reports Thursday, the US Department of Justice has prepared the charges it needs to seek the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
CIA Director calls WikiLeaks an “enemy,” says Assange has “no First Amendment freedoms”
By Eric London, 15 April 2017
Pompeo’s speech lays out the new standard: the First Amendment only applies to speech that the CIA deems tolerable.
The WikiLeaks revelations and the crimes of US imperialism
By Andre Damon, 9 March 2017
The WikiLeaks documents expose the US as the greatest “rogue state,” carrying out spying, hacking, exploitation and disinformation operations all over the world in order to further the interests of the US ruling elite.
WikiLeaks revelations raise new questions about the death of journalist Michael Hastings
By Bryan Dyne, 9 March 2017
Hastings was investigating CIA Director John Brennan when he was killed in a June 2013 car crash.
WikiLeaks reveals vast CIA spying, cyberwar operation
By Bill Van Auken, 8 March 2017
Amid Democrats’ claims of Russian hacking in support of Trump and Trump’s charge that he was bugged by Obama, WikiLeaks has revealed a vast CIA operation directed against the people of the US and the world.
Julian Assange statement exposes bogus rape allegation
By Steve James, 13 December 2016
Assange not only exposes the bogus rape allegations made against him, but presents a devastating review of the US-led campaign to ensure his arrest pending deportation.
Swedish authorities finally question Julian Assange after six years
By Robert Stevens, 15 November 2016
The Swedish authorities are blatantly flouting international law in their vindictive pursuit of Assange.
Washington moves to silence WikiLeaks
By Bill Van Auken, 19 October 2016
The US political establishment is prepared to use whatever measures are required to prevent a further exposure of the real social and political interests underlying the grotesque 2016 presidential contest.
Trump and Clinton brawl in the gutter
By Andre Damon, 13 October 2016
Long-suppressed social tensions in the United States are expressing themselves in an election campaign marked by increasingly violent recriminations by both candidates.
The Bellingcat research collective: War propaganda masquerading as “citizen journalism”
By Steve James, 13 October 2016
Bellingcat founder Eliot Higgins is employed by the Atlantic Council, a leading US geopolitical strategy think tank.
Sweden upholds Assange arrest warrant
By Paul Mitchell, 22 September 2016
The significance of the Swedish decision is underscored by the revelations from WikiLeaks, which have led US news outlets to declare they could determine who becomes the next American president.
Political prisoner Chelsea Manning begins hunger strike
By Tom Hall, 12 September 2016
Manning began her hunger strike in military prison on Friday in protest against the abuse and harassment that drove her to attempt suicide in July.
New York Times launches McCarthyite witch-hunt against Julian Assange
By Bill Van Auken, 2 September 2016
The Times’ vilification is aimed at discrediting in advance any information from WikiLeaks exposing the crimes of US imperialism and its favored candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Sexual assault accusations used to oust leader at Tor Project
By Adam Mclean, 19 August 2016
The Tor Project, a network and tool for anonymizing one’s internet traffic, has been a repeated target of attacks from US intelligence agencies.
Swedish prosecutors to question Julian Assange in Ecuador’s London embassy
By Paul Mitchell, 15 August 2016
Assange remains fearful that attempts will be made to railroad him to the United States, where a sealed Grand Jury indictment involving espionage charges is awaiting him.
WikiLeaks offers $20,000 reward over murder of DNC staffer linked to email leak
By E.P. Bannon, 12 August 2016
Rich was in charge of DNC voter expansion data and had access to a wide range of information about the inner workings of the Democratic Party.
Whistle-blower Chelsea Manning: “I became very, very sad” during torture
By Tom Carter, 4 August 2016
A recently published interview sheds light on the conditions faced by Manning, the US Army whistle-blower and political prisoner, who attempted suicide on July 5.
From WikiLeaks’ Clinton Email Archive
The New York Times’ chief military correspondent met secretly with State Department in 2010 to bury Iraq War Logs
By E.P. Bannon, 3 August 2016
The revelation of the correspondence again makes clear the degree to which the American “fourth estate” is completely integrated into the capitalist state.
Chelsea Manning hospitalized, then returned to prison
By Patrick Martin, 7 July 2016
While some media reports claimed a suicide attempt was involved, this has not been confirmed by the Army or Manning’s attorneys.
Swedish court refuses to drop arrest warrant for Julian Assange
By Josh Varlin, 26 May 2016
The Stockholm Court rejected the conclusion of a United Nations working group that Assange has been arbitrarily detained in violation of international human rights conventions.
Julian Assange challenges anti-democratic “no platform” campaign
By Laura Tiernan, 24 May 2016
The Sheffield meeting was a victory over efforts to silence Assange and close down debate on fundamental issues surrounding the escalation of militarism and war.
International Monetary Fund discussed forcing Greek debt default
By John Vassilopoulos, 12 April 2016
A leaked teleconference transcript published by WikiLeaks exposed differences between the European Union and IMF on how to enforce a third austerity package.
The Guardian defends continued persecution of Julian Assange by UK and Sweden
By Robert Stevens, 11 February 2016
In seeking to undermine the UN’s opinion, the Guardian simply parrots the line of the British and Swedish governments.
UK and Swedish governments continue their persecution of Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 6 February 2016
London and Stockholm have rejected the UN’s verdict that Assange has been arbitrarily detained.
UN panel condemns detention of WikiLeaks founder
Stop the persecution of Julian Assange!
By Bill Van Auken, 5 February 2016
Despite a ruling that Assange has been subjected to “arbitrary detention,” both the UK and Sweden vow to continue his persecution.
Five years since the arrest of Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 8 December 2015
Assange is the victim of a transparent frame-up. His sole crime was to bring to global attention the heinous war crimes committed by the US and other imperialist powers in Iraq and Afghanistan—crimes authorised at the highest levels of government.
UK pressured Sweden not to question Julian Assange in London
By Paul Mitchell, 24 October 2015
Nearly five years after Assange’s arrest without charge, and in breach of a Swedish law, the prosecutor has still not taken a statement from the WikiLeaks editor.
UK: Metropolitan Police threaten “covert” measures to arrest Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 15 October 2015
The decision to end the police presence outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in no way lessens the threat to the founder of WikiLeaks.
Chelsea Manning found guilty of violating prison rules
By Kevin Martinez, 21 August 2015
The imprisoned whistleblower was sentenced to 21 days of restrictions but was spared indefinite solitary confinement following public outrage over the trial.
Chelsea Manning facing indefinite solitary confinement
By George Gallanis, 15 August 2015
The whistleblower faces solitary confinement for disorderly conduct, disrespecting corrections officers and having prohibited items.
Sweden drops some allegations against Julian Assange but US-backed persecution continues
By James Cogan, 14 August 2015
The passing of five years has not dampened Washington’s vindictive pursuit of the WikiLeaks editor.
WikiLeaks email release reveals hacking by governments worldwide
By Mike Head, 13 July 2015
At least 46 countries are identified as seeking Hacking Team software to secretly access and monitor computers and smart phones.
French president rejects bid to assist WikiLeaks founder
By Patrick Martin, 4 July 2015
President Hollande has rebuffed calls to grant asylum to Assange in the wake of revelations by Wikileaks of illegal NSA spying on several French leaders.
The Gunman, Sean Penn’s attack on WikiLeaks and related matters
By David Walsh, 15 April 2015
Penn’s views and activities are worth considering, especially in the light of his recent disgraceful comments about Julian Assange of WikiLeaks and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Four years since the arrest of Julian Assange
By Robert Stevens, 12 December 2014
The ongoing exposure of the crimes of American imperialism over the past four years says much about why WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remains a wanted man.
UK paved way for Sweden’s new demand for Assange’s extradition
By Robert Stevens, 22 November 2014
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s only “crime” is his exposure of imperialist war crimes and conspiracies against the world’s population.
Swedish court upholds vendetta against Julian Assange
By James Cogan, 21 November 2014
The ruling continues the monstrous frame-up and political persecution of the WikiLeaks editor.
Assange says he may soon leave Ecuadorian embassy
By Robert Stevens, 20 August 2014
Assange was first arrested in London in December 2010 under a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden.
Swedish court upholds detention order against Julian Assange
By Thomas Gaist, 17 July 2014
The detention order stems from trumped-up rape claims leveled against Assange in the wake of WikiLeaks’ publication of secret US military and diplomatic documents.
Two years of asylum in Ecuadorian embassy
Defend Julian Assange!
By Bill Van Auken, 19 June 2014
Assange’s sole “crime” was to publish secret documents exposing war crimes carried out by the US government in Iraq and Afghanistan and conspiracies hatched by the US State Department in countries around the world.
NSA records and stores content of all phone calls in two countries
By Eric London, 21 May 2014
New Snowden leaks reveal that the US government acquires the content of 100 percent of phone calls in the Bahamas and a second, as-yet undisclosed country.
WikiLeaks, Assange targets of active FBI probe
By Bill Van Auken, 21 May 2014
Court documents confirm that the FBI and US Justice Department are continuing a “criminal/national security” investigation against WikiLeaks and its founder.
Leaked documents detail NSA surveillance operations against WikiLeaks
By Thomas Gaist, 19 February 2014
Files from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden show that the US has waged an international campaign against WikiLeaks, its founder Julian Assange and its supporters.
WikiLeaks Party mired in crisis
By Patrick O’Connor, 29 August 2013
The party’s turmoil provides a salutary lesson in class politics.
The sentencing of Bradley Manning
By Eric London, 22 August 2013
The sentencing of whistleblower Bradley Manning to a 35-year prison term will be remembered as a milestone in the collapse of American democracy.
Again on Alex Gibney’s We Steal Secrets
By Richard Philips, 22 August 2013
The US documentary did poorly at the Australian box office following its release last month and was withdrawn from local cinemas after a few weeks.
Floyd Abrams praises Manning verdict
By Tom Carter, 21 August 2013
Floyd Abrams’ letter to the New York Times dated July 31 typifies the response within “liberal” sections of the political establishment to the conviction of whistleblower Bradley Manning on espionage charges.
Bradley Manning’s statement: A forced “confession” concludes a drumhead tribunal
By Eric London, 15 August 2013
Bradley Manning issued an apologetic statement at his sentencing hearing yesterday in an indication of the immense government pressure on the young whistle-blower.
Manning prosecution rests case in sentencing phase
By Matthew MacEgan, 12 August 2013
The information presented by witnesses during this phase of the trial have demonstrated the extreme weakness of the espionage charges on which Private Manning was convicted.
Bradley Manning prosecution pushes for maximum 136-year sentence
By Matthew MacEgan, 2 August 2013
The conviction of Manning on espionage charges is a frontal attack on First Amendment guarantees of press and speech freedom.
The Bradley Manning verdict: Criminalizing the exposure of crimes
By Joseph Kishore, 1 August 2013
Manning, Assange and Snowden have put their lives at risk to expose to the American people the secret actions of a military-intelligence apparatus that operates without constraint and above the law.
Defense rests in Manning court-martial
By Matthew MacEgan, 27 July 2013
Yesterday, the team defending Private Bradley Manning gave its closing argument, putting an end to this stage of the court-martial.
Prosecution delivers closing arguments in Manning trial
By Matthew MacEgan, 26 July 2013
The prosecution’s closing arguments on Monday sought to portray Manning as arrogant and reckless, operating with the conscious aim of providing information to Al Qaeda.
Prosecutors attack Bradley Manning for being “anti-patriotic”
By Matthew MacEgan, 22 July 2013
The attempt to smear Manning as "un-American" underscores the frameup character of the procedures against him.
Judge retains “aiding the enemy” charge against Bradley Manning
By Matthew MacEgan and Joseph Kishore, 19 July 2013
On the basis of the government’s line of argument and actions, nothing remains of the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Freedom of the press under attack in Manning case
By Matthew MacEgan, 17 July 2013
The judge hearing the case against Bradley Manning said she would decide Thursday whether to dismiss seven of the charges.
Bradley Manning’s defense rests its case
By Matthew MacEgan, 12 July 2013
On Wednesday, the defense rested its case in the court-martial of Bradley Manning, a trial that reveals the anti-democratic character of the US government.
Defense begins case in trial of Bradley Manning
By Thomas Gaist, 10 July 2013
Bradley Manning’s defense team began arguments this week in the face of a preemptory ruling prohibiting mention of the Army private’s motives for leaking evidence of war crimes.
Prosecution case vs. Bradley Manning threatens First Amendment rights to free speech and press
By Ed Hightower, 4 July 2013
In charging Manning with “aiding the enemy,” the US government is equating the publication of classified information about its secret and illegal activities with espionage, treason and aiding terrorists.
A cinematic disinformation job on Julian Assange
Alex Gibney’s We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks
By Richard Phillips, 2 July 2013
Peppered with factual errors and outright falsifications, Gibney’s documentary is an attempt to discredit WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and defend the US intelligence apparatus.
“Truth is coming and it cannot be stopped”
NSA whistleblower Snowden issues defiant response to government threats and media lies
By Eric London, 18 June 2013
In comments posted on the web site of the Guardian newspaper, Snowden skewered the Obama administration and Democratic and Republican Party officials, while indicating that more revelations are to come.
Bradley Manning’s supervisors testify in third day of court martial
By Naomi Spencer, 6 June 2013
The government is determined to connect Manning to Al Qaeda, arguing that because the WikiLeaks web site is publicly available to anyone, Manning must have intended to “aid the enemy.”
US government charges Manning with “aiding the enemy” in court martial
By Naomi Spencer, 5 June 2013
The ongoing Army court martial of Private Bradley Manning is a crude political frame-up.
Bradley Manning’s court martial begins
By Naomi Spencer, 4 June 2013
After 1,100 days in prison, Army private Bradley Manning faced a military court martial Monday. Day one of the trial was characterized by government secrecy, vindictiveness, and lies.
Why the SEP does not endorse the WikiLeaks Party
By Patrick O’Connor—SEP Senate candidate for Victoria, 20 May 2013
WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange has launched a new party ahead of Australia’s federal election in September.
WikiLeaks cables confirm collusion between Vatican and dictators
By Marc Wells, 15 April 2013
Diplomatic communications expose the relationship between the Vatican and dictatorial regimes, from Chile’s Pinochet to Argentina’s Videla to Spain’s Franco.
Government witnesses to testify anonymously at Bradley Manning trial
By Naomi Spencer, 12 April 2013
A military judge ruled Wednesday that the government can call witnesses to testify in secret in the court martial against accused whistleblower Bradley Manning.
The New York Times’ Bill Keller smears Bradley Manning
By Naomi Spencer, 18 March 2013
Attempting to justify the Times’ unprincipled role in the events leading up to Manning’s arrest, the newspaper’s former executive editor wrote a column on March 10, “Bradley Manning’s Confidant.”
The Obama administration’s persecution of Bradley Manning
By Naomi Spencer, 8 March 2013
The Obama administration intends to make an example out of the accused whistleblower.
Bradley Manning and the media
By Naomi Spencer, 2 March 2013
At Thursday’s hearing, Bradley Manning revealed this extraordinary fact: before sending files to WikiLeaks, he contacted both the Washington Post and the New York Times, but neither paper responded.
Bradley Manning pleads not guilty to “aiding the enemy” charge
By Naomi Spencer, 1 March 2013
In a statement in military court Thursday, accused whistleblower Bradley Manning admitted leaking government files, but pleaded not guilty to “aiding the enemy.”
Bradley Manning denied whistleblower defense
By Naomi Spencer, 19 January 2013
Manning’s motive for leaking evidence of war crimes is not admissible in his court martial, the military judge has ruled.
US Army judge rejects motion to dismiss charges in Bradley Manning case
By Naomi Spencer, 10 January 2013
Manning was granted only a 112-day reduction in sentencing on a life term in hearings this week.
Hearing on Bradley Manning’s pre-trial confinement concludes
By Naomi Spencer, 12 December 2012
Manning was arrested May 26, 2010, accused of the largest leak of classified military and government documents in history while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq.
WikiLeaks editor denounces mass internet surveillance and US attacks on democratic rights
By Richard Phillips, 11 December 2012
Julian Assange brushes aside provocative questions by CNN television journalist to promote new book on global internet surveillance and mass spying operations.
Bradley Manning speaks on abuse
By Naomi Spencer, 1 December 2012
Accused whistleblower Bradley Manning told the military court of sleep deprivation, isolation, and torment by guards.
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