The 39-year-old whistle-blower is wanted by the Swedish authorities over claims that he sexually assaulted two women during a visit to Stockholm in August.
But his defense team believe there is a “real risk” he could be extradited on to the US, where he could be detained in Guantanamo Bay or even face the death penalty. The claim emerged in a skeleton argument released by Assange’s lawyers in the wake of a preparatory legal hearing at Woolwich Crown Court.
Assange’s legal team suggested that extraditing him to Sweden could breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which bans torture.
They wrote: “Indeed, if Assange were rendered to the USA without assurances that the death penalty would not be carried out, there is a real risk that he could be made subject to the death penalty.”
Reacting to reports about Assange facing death penalty, Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent journalist and head of the soon-to-be launched Alwaleed 24 television news channel, said big governments and top officials would like to see him punished.
“It is natural and understandable; they have been affected by his work and they would want him to be hammered to the fullest,” he said, adding: “However, we as journalists will stand by him because through WikiLeaks he has provided us with valuable information.”
In every sense, Khashoggi said, Assange has played the role of a journalist. “Americans have not denied that the documents are fake. They have taken exception to their selective release and are immensely bothered by the information becoming public,” he said.
“The WikiLeaks documents have been published and are being published by the world’s leading newspapers and I don’t think any editor in chief in the free world will ever face prosecution over their publication.”
Popular Saudi columnist and Shoura Council member Najeeb Al-Zamil felt Assange is being punished to send a message to others like him. “Yes, he committed a crime against two women in Sweden. That is a fact. And he has paid the price for that. Why is he now being punished? His extradition is being demanded so that an example can be made out of him,” he said. “The big governments want to punish him for having dared to cross a line that they deemed sacrosanct,” said Al-Zamil. “’How dare he?’ is the official reaction. And they want to send a clear message to future Assanges that look we will get back at you if you do what Assange has done.”
WikiLeaks will step up its publication schedule of secret documents, Assange announced on Tuesday, promising more revelations based on the group’s stash of confidential US embassy cables and other leaks.
Assange, 39, spoke to reporters outside London’s high-security Belmarsh Magistrates’ Court, where he and his lawyers appeared for a hearing in his fight against extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted in a sex-crimes inquiry.
The Australian computer expert said that would soon change, as new media outlets are being made party to the leaks.
“We are stepping up our publishing for matters related to Cablegate and other materials,” Assange said. “Those will shortly be occurring through our newspaper partners around the world — big and small newspapers and some human rights organizations.” He did not elaborate, returning to court with his lawyers without taking questions.
The Swedish case has divided world opinion. Assange and his supporters say he is being prosecuted for political reasons, something denied by Swedish authorities and Assange’s alleged victims, who insist it has nothing to do with WikiLeaks’ activities.
Assange, wearing a dark suit, was in court for just 10 minutes for a discussion of his next appearance, scheduled for Feb. 7. A few people protested outside the London court, with one standing behind a banner proclaiming: “Welcome to the show trial.” Earlier Tuesday, WikiLeaks released a statement decrying the death threats in the United States that have been made against Assange.
— With input from agencies
