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Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

bbc.com

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Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#741

Post by tripzilch »

samdfonseca wrote: post #467
dingoegret wrote: post #404

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know why you don't think a trial doesn't carry seriously negative and scary connotations, but it does and no rational person just subjects themselves to persecution.

I agree that standing trial for rape must be terrifying, but that doesn't mean he's being persecuted. We've agreed upon a system of justice that best protects the rights of both the accuser and the accused, and he decided to deny the alleged victim their day in court. He was free to leave the embassy, he was free to defend himself from humiliation, but he chose not to.

He was also at risk of being extradited to the US, and what they would do to him was a lot scarier than standing trial.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#742

Post by tripzilch »

duxup wrote: post #134
k1m wrote: post #35

Worth mentioning that Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, visited Assange and described his treatment as psychological torture: > “It was obvious that Mr. Assange’s health has been seriously affected by the extremely hostile and arbitrary environment he has been exposed to for many years,” the expert said. “Most importantly, in addition to physical ailments, Mr. Assange showed all symptoms typical for…

I find the idea of the threat of prosecution in a free country as a form of "torture" a bit questionable. It's something, but i'm not sure I agree with calling that torture.

Actually it's just 98% free. The rest is in jail or prison.

As far as "free countries" go, it's really the worst to end up.

Did you seriously forget all the UN reports about human rights issues in the US? Yeah the US ignores them, but the rest of the world knows it. It's really pretty bad.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#743

Post by tyingq »

jeffdavis wrote: post #720
tyingq wrote: post #568

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At first glance, First Step looks like progress. But, it seems to only apply to Federal inmates, which is only 10% (or less) of the prison population.

So, 10% is not progress?

It's progress. I wasn't sure that everyone knew it applied only to Federal prisoners. Thought that was worth sharing.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#744

Post by tripzilch »

duxup wrote: post #245
div wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, visited Assange and described his treatment as psychological torture.

I read the articles. As I noted I disagree. If he didn't divulge something(s) that also added to his assessment I can't account for that.

An American dismissing a UN special rapport about torture. ... I really can't fathom why people would go through such extreme lengths to avoid getting extradited there ... /s

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#745

Post by tripzilch »

nemo wrote: post #381
k1m wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it remarkable that so many here feel they are in a better position to assess whether Assange's human rights have been violated than experts on the topic at the UN who've spent considerable time looking into his situation.

Appealing to authority is a lot less persuasive when it's a non-binding report from a minor working group. I read their account. It was poorly argued and inconsistent. Should we really accept a case that's made because of the authority making the argument rather than the argument itself?

In the context of all the other times when the US got reported for human rights abuse, I think it's pretty damn persuasive. Just because the US ignores all those special UN reports, doesn't mean the rest of the world does...

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#746

Post by tripzilch »

zaarn wrote: post #505
k1m wrote: post #303

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Melzer: "Mr. Assange was about as free to leave as someone sitting on a rubber boat in a shark pool." In 2016 another group of UN experts found his situation to be "arbitrary detention": > In its official Opinion, the Working Group considered that Mr. Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth Prison in London, followed by house arrest and then confinement…

The later parts are all about the time in prison Assange is currently under, which, granted, is probably not the best of times. But if you run from the law, why should Assange or a human rights expert expect to be handled like in a 5 star hotel?

Um it's only a "5 star hotel" if you compare it to what would happen to him after extradition to the US.

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#747

Post by [deleted] »

vintermann wrote: post #409
counterpig wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The charges from Sweden have been dropped and bought several times depending on their usefulness to the Americans it is not a case of the system working as intended. It is a foreign power putting diplomatic pressure on the Swedish government to put pressure on a man who has embarrassed them.

Yup, very convenient that the pseudo-charges (He was never formally charged) were maintained for ten years, but as soon as they complicate extradition to the US they get dropped. It's not the only thing in the Assange case which is blatantly political persecution. You got to wonder how most of the press can keep pretending it's not.

[deleted]

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#748

Post by tripzilch »

mcv wrote: post #412
jancsika wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I find the idea of the threat of prosecution in a free country as a form of "torture" a bit questionable. Yeah, it's funny how HN typically goes evidence-free where pet politics is concerned. I'll eat my hat if someone on here can name a single precedent of someone being tortured in the U.S. before being tried for a crime similar to what Assange would be accused of. Edit: and citations, please!

Examples of people being tortured in the US are plenty. It all depends on what you mean by "similar to what Assange would be accused of". He was accused of rape, which is one of the few crimes that the US takes much more lightly than Sweden does.

Especially prison rape! The US takes it so lightly they even have a cute euphemism for it, "to pick up the soap", which allows you to lightly joke about sexual abuse punishment fantasies in polite company!

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#749

Post by cookie_monsta »

The guy conspired to hack govt computers with the intent of publishing classified information. This much we know from the Manning chat transcript.

What those secrets were and if Assange is a journalist or publisher or rapist or saint or martyr or useful idiot is all moot.

The guy is going to spend time in a US prison at some point unless he dies or flees. If he doesn't go via Sweden is almost immaterial (unless you're a rape victim wanting their day in court).

What exactly is it about Assange that says he should be immune from prosecution and what other loopholes exist to the rule of law?

Re: Sweden Drops Julian Assange Rape Investigation

#750

Post by shadowgovt »

SuoDuanDao wrote: post #735
shadowgovt wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're off in speculation territory, but I think it's unlikely the situation would have been worse for him than it is now (unless one buys into the ridiculous "The Clintons have people killed" conspiracy theory, in which case I have the basement of a pizza parlor to sell if anyone's buying. ;) ).

which to me, implies that Assange bought into that theory in 2016. Which given his situation, makes me think that 'rediculous' might not be the best descriptor.

You'd think someone such as him with so much access to information would be less susceptible to repeatedly-debunked conspiracy theories.

Then again, such theories seem to have blossomed in the information age, so perhaps not.

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