WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has applied for political asylum in France after a minister indicated that it may be granted. However, the Elysee Palace has promptly rejected the request.
In an open letter to
French President Francois Hollande published by Le Monde, the
fugitive transparency activist said he is a victim of persecution
by the US government over exposure of its human rights violations
and controversial practices.
Julian Assange : « Monsieur Hollande, accueillez-moi en France
» http://t.co/Bqhnv9Jnyfpic.twitter.com/ec6UhU3Qyg
— Le Monde (@lemondefr) July
3, 2015
“For the simple fact
of publishing information meriting public interest that
whistleblowers had passed to WikiLeaks, I am personally
prosecuted for espionage, conspiracy, theft or compromise of
confidential US government information and computer violations,
risking life imprisonment or worse,” he said.
Assange added that
Ecuador had probably saved his life by giving him sanctuary
inside its embassy in London, thus protecting from extradition.
The activist has spent over three years inside the embassy since
June 2012.
#WikiLeaks
releases docs claiming #NSA spied on
last three French presidents http://t.co/Qa50JJZUHz pic.twitter.com/ZvHmkTRdhL
— RT America (@RT_America) June
23, 2015
He welcomed the public
statements by French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, who
said that Assange may be granted political asylum in France. Such
a gesture would be humanitarian and symbolic in nature, sending a
message of encouragement to journalists and whistleblowers who
take risks to reveal the truth, he believes.
Snowden Assange could get ‘symbolic’ asylum offers from
France following NSA spying scandal http://t.co/2uKhbN5xin pic.twitter.com/X1FNgDnrzl
— RT UK (@RTUKnews) June
26, 2015
The letter was published
on Friday, Assange’s 43rd birthday.
However, the request was
rejected by Paris less than an hour after the letter’s
publication.
“After a comprehensive study [of the letter] it became
apparent that Mr. Assange’s legal grounds and material situation
do not allow France to satisfy his request,” the Elysee
Palace said in a statement, saying that his life is not in danger
and that there is an international arrest warrant in his name.
The swift development sparked a wave of comments on social media.
Assange critics branded the move an ‘opportunistic’ attempt to
get asylum in France while his supporters blasted Paris for
‘playing US lapdog’ in the situation.
Opportunist Julian #Assange now
asks France for asylum from evil Sweden. Application
immediately REFUSED. #auspolhttp://t.co/dWnCnMwg7G
— Sandra K Eckersley (@SandraEckersley)
July 3, 2015
Keep spying on us, America! We will always be your lapdog. ♥
Love, France https://t.co/3lmbDzZllk
— M (@m_cetera) July
3, 2015
#France
refuses to grant political asylum to Julian #Assange
after, and I quote, ‘ a review approndi ” of its… http://t.co/BN0GoO3zki
— The Lulz Boat (@Anon_Universal) July
3, 2015
WikiLeaks published scores of classified documents including
those detailing US surveillance on top French officials,
including three consequent French presidents. Washington denied
such activities ever happened, but the publications sparked a
political scandal in France.