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It’s now Day 10 of proceedings at the Old Bailey in London. Campaigns Officer @AustinPatrickC is currently in court monitoring in person for @RSF_inter. I’ll be back in court myself tomorrow. In the meantime, here’s my recap from last week. https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1306684761080029186
Some exciting news: thanks to your support, signatures on @RSF_inter’s #FreeAssange petition have more than doubled since the hearing began. Please keep signing & sharing, and we’ll take the petition back to @10DowningStreet along with @StellaMoris1 when proceedings conclude. 3/ https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1308039817473798152
We attempted to deliver the first 80,000 signatures on the #FreeAssange petition to @10DowningStreet on day one of the extradition hearing. They refused to accept it. We *love* that the public’s response was to share it even further. Please keep it up! 4/ https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1303360601624915968
Here’s what 80,000 signatures looked like - now we’re at more than 160,000. We’re going to need a bigger banner...can we double it again? 5/
Meanwhile, access issues continue. We’ve written to the court about the 3 public gallery seats that continue to be withheld for mysterious “VIPs” who have not turned up in 2 weeks - contravening the court’s stated policy that these are first-come, first-served for the public. 6/
This is only one of many barriers to NGO observers monitoring this hearing, which has been the most difficult to access of any case I’ve ever monitored in any country - to the detriment of open justice, the right to a fair trial, and the public’s right to access information. 7/
Back tomorrow with my own observations from court. In the meantime, follow the small but dedicated press corps that stick with this case. And please do sign and share @RSF_inter’s #FreeAssange petition! 8/ https://rsf.org/en/free-assange
It’s been an incredibly hectic day, but I monitored the AM & PM sessions in person, witnessing Professor Kopelman’s full testimony. Will share some observations shortly. Unlike journalists, I lose my devices each time I get into the public gallery, so can’t live tweet! 9/
Professor Michael Kopelman’s testimony was strong & disturbing. He spoke of Julian Assange’s history of depression, his anxiety, his frequent suicidal thoughts, his auditory hallucinations, his PTSD, his sleep disorder. He painted a clear picture of extreme vulnerability. 10/
Please note that today was uncomfortable to witness & this is uncomfortable to write. No one would want to feel exposed in the way Julian Assange was today. But it’s important for the world to know what’s at stake - and I feel a responsibility as one of few who bore witness. 11/
According to Kopelman, Assange has reported having suicidal thoughts hundreds of times per day. He plans, he prepares (for example, writing a will), and he calls the Samaritans most days. 12/
Kopelman said Assange’s auditory hallucinations tell him things like “you’re worthless”, “you’re nothing”, “you’re dust”, “you’re dead”, and to kill himself.
The prosecution argued these were self-reported. Kopelman pointed out hallucinations are always self-reported. 13/
The prosecution argued these were self-reported. Kopelman pointed out hallucinations are always self-reported. 13/
Kopelman believes the conditions Assange would be held in in the US would exacerbate all of these conditions. He stated resolutely that if Assange were extradited to the US, he would find a way to commit suicide. “He is certainly clever enough to do so”. 14/
Kopelman said Assange was concerned by Chelsea Manning’s suicide attempt in Alexandria Detention Center - where Assange would also likely be held - saying the fact she would do that just days before the possibility of bail shows had bad detention conditions must be. 15/
In James Lewis’ cross-examination, the prosecution demonstrated what I can only describe as a deliberate misinterpretation of serious mental health issues and neurodiversity (given Assange’s ASD). He was particularly dismissive of the severity of clinical depression. 16/
On several occasions, Professor Kopelman noted that James Lewis was attempting to make psychiatric diagnoses. “I am the psychiatrist and you are a lawyer”. 17/
At one point Professor Kopelman also somewhat humorously noted that although James Lewis was attempting to discredit him in court, he had previously attempted to engage his expertise on another matter. 18/
Prosecutor James Lewis also attempted to discredit UN Special Rapporteur on Torture @NilsMelzer, dismissing his report after visiting Assange at Belmarsh prison as “palpable nonsense”. Melzer’s report detailed the effects of psychological torture on Assange. 19/
Today’s testimony added urgency to the humanitarian need for Julian Assange’s release - although I want to emphasise that @RSF_inter believes Assange should be released full stop, and the charges against him dropped. 20/
I also want to emphasise that the UK authorities bear responsibility for anything that happens to Assange in detention here - and for anything that happens to him in detention in the US if he is extradited. This country still has the chance to stop this. We can, and we must. 21/
For anyone in the system who is following (I know you are) and has any decency, now is the time to reconsider this position. Now is the time to decide what kind of country we want to be - and I hope it’s a country that still respects democratic principles and the rule of law. 22/
I feel awful even writing this thread. My heart is broken for @StellaMoris1 and their kids, not to mention @MrsC_Assange and John Shipman. Absolutely no one deserves this. 23/
Perhaps this all should come with a trigger warning. Please take care of yourselves, and each other. I’m ending this day very grateful for my own mental health and my freedom - and that of the people I love. 24/
Here’s my video overview for @RSF_inter of today’s proceedings. Accessing the hearing still remains hugely difficult, but we’ll continue to get in whenever possible. 25/ https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1308510169106706434
Oh and here’s @RSF_inter’s little campaigns team in action today, tired and somewhat stressed (well me anyway - @AustinPatrickC is endlessly calm!). Thank you, @MElmaazi for the photos! 26/
Day 12...a quick note to say that @AustinPatrickC will be in court this afternoon for @RSF_inter. I’ll be back myself tomorrow. We’ll also have some news on our #FreeAssange campaign out soon. 27/
Do follow @RSF_inter’s campaigns officer @AustinPatrickC, who is working with me on our campaign to #FreeAssange and can also be found around or in court. 28/ https://twitter.com/AustinPatrickC/status/1308792939028635649
Some news: @RSF_inter’s #FreeAssange petition was targeted through a spambot attack. But no data was compromised and we’re more determined than ever to secure Julian Assange’s release and stop his extradition to the US. 29/ https://twitter.com/rebecca_vincent/status/1308810115122974720
Please keep signing and sharing our #FreeAssange petition - it’s more important than ever. We’ll make sure the UK authorities can’t ignore tens of thousands of voices. 30/ https://rsf.org/en/free-assange
