AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
Media organisations are using world press freedom day to push the United States government to drop extradition proceedings against Julian Assange.
Assange has been in prison in the United Kingdom for the past four years and is fighting extradition to face espionage charges in the United States.
Australia's media union the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA) have released a statement alongside the International Federation of Journalists and European Federation of Journalists calling for Assange's release.
The statement described his imprisonment as "the most dangerous threat to press freedom today".
A press freedom survey conducted by the union in 2022 showed more than 92 per cent of media worker respondents feared threats, intimidation and harassment of journalists was on the rise.
MEAA media president Karen Percy said she was saddened the case against the WikiLeaks co-founder had continued for so long.
Assange, an Australian citizen, has been a member of the union since 2007 and has been held in London's Belmarsh prison since 2019.
"The prosecution of Julian Assange imperils journalism everywhere and undermines the United States' reputation as a safe place for press freedom and free speech," Ms Percy said.
"We urge the Australian government to ramp up its advocacy to the Biden administration for the charges be dropped, which would allow Assange to be released from prison and reunited with his family."
Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton said people across the world should question whether journalists were truly free to report on US foreign and military policy.
"Back in 2010, Julian worked with leading media outlets from around the world to publish factual information in the public interest about US war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq," Mr Shipton said.
"Many of the revelations were deeply embarrassing to the US and its allies, including Australia.
"While Julian has been singled out and continues to suffer the vicious wrath of the US government, not one of these other media outlets is facing any legal repercussions."
