Raggle-taggle of ‘household names’ provided big sums in direction of WikiLeaks founder’s failed bail plea
The already curious situation of Julian Assange took yet another bizarre twist yesterday once the courtroom learned that a raggle-taggle of “household names” have been ready to stake their reputation in his situation, supplying sureties for the court with a complete value of £180,000.
In spite of claiming not to know Assange, the film-maker Ken Loach and the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan stood just before Westminster magistrates and offered huge sums towards Assange’s bail, although bail was later refused.
Offering £20,000, Loach stated he didn’t know Assange aside from by reputation, but extra: “I assume the work he has completed continues to be a public service. I assume we are entitled to know the dealings of individuals that govern us.”
Khan presented an extra £20,000, “or a lot more if want be”.
Inside a assertion later, she said: “I make no judgment of Julian Assange as an individual as I have never met him. I’m providing my help to him as I think in the universal proper to freedom of information and our right to become informed the fact.”
On her Twitter feed last month, Khan requested if Assange was “the new Jason Bourne”, a reference for the fictional action hero developed by the thriller author Robert Ludlum. The post has given that been deleted.
The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also provided £20,000, stated he knew Assange as being a journalist and individual pal and had a “very substantial regard for him”.
The biggest donation of £80,000 was supplied by an unknown American relation who did not desire to be named since of concern for his safety.
Patricia David, a professor, as well as the top lawyer Geoffrey Sheen each supplied up £20,000 surety on grounds that they had invested their lives preventing for human rights.
Outdoors courtroom Pilger said: “This enterprise in Sweden is really a travesty; an innocent man has a right to be totally free.
“Having his freedom taken away is outrageous. Sweden should be ashamed. This isn’t justice – it is outrageous.”
He added: “Behind this he has made lots of enemies, the principal one particular being the warmonger, the usa.”
Howard Riddle, the judge at the courtroom in Horseferry Road, London, commended 4 of your sureties for his or her willingness to help “out of concern for human rights” and devoid of personalized understanding of Assange.