Julian Assange has just been arrested after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for the last seven years. If Assange has any crimes to answer for, he should stand trial for them here in Europe and under no circumstances be extradited to the US where he would face a politically motivated and unfair trial.

If the Swedish rape investigation against him is reopened he must of course be investigated and held accountable. But the Home Office said he has been arrested in relation to an extradition request from the U.S.

Whether you like or agree with Assange or not, if he is handed over to the US it sets a dangerous precedent that means that any journalist can be extradited for prosecution in the US simply for having published truthful information.

Assange helped facilitate the leaking of classified US documents that are of interest to everyone in the world. His leaks helped expose the US government’s human rights violations and spying on its allies.

Any allegations against Assange should be dealt within the criminal justice system in the UK or Europe. Please sign my petition calling on the British authorities to refuse to hand over Julian Assange to the US.