The ban of Wikipedia in Turkey on April 29, 2017, by the ErdoÄŸan regime was, for me, the clearest line between freedom and censorship. When I recall that day, I remember crossing to the other side of the water in the darkness of the morning I left Turkey. I was covered in mud, but my first action was to download the Wikipedia app on my cell phone. In that sense, freedom symbolically meant this app to me. When I heard the news about Assange’s freedom yesterday morning, I thought of the morning of April 27, 2018, when I left Turkey.
“Today, at least 50 civilians were killed by bombs that exploded in Basra, southern Iraq. Military units reaching the scene reported great chaos in the area.”
“In discussions among leaders in Afghanistan, it was emphasized that the Taliban is gaining strength and that the security situation across the country is deteriorating.”
When Julian Assange set out for Australia, the news of his deal with the US had not yet been announced. This deal included his release in exchange for pleading guilty to a single violation of the Espionage Act.
Of course, this is not an acceptable situation. Assange should never have been imprisoned. The world’s eyes were turned to a courtroom in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. Why? Because the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being reshaped after years of legal struggle.
Assange became known for exposing secrets led by the US. The Iraq War Logs, the Afghan War Diaries, and diplomatic cables… These documents revealed the behind-the-scenes events, decisions, and strategies of the American government. Assange fought for the right to access information, which he argued is the cornerstone of democratic societies.
Today’s event marks a turning point in Assange’s legal process. By signing the agreement, Assange will regain his freedom by pleading guilty to a single charge. This is not the desired outcome for him; because Assange spent 7 years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and about 5 years in Belmarsh High-Security Prison. However, this agreement will save him from being extradited to the US.
In recent years, there has been political pressure in Australia for Assange’s release. This pressure may have influenced the Biden administration’s decision. But essentially, the deterrent effect of Assange’s trial on the future of journalism may have been considered. Targeting journalists serves no purpose other than protecting criminals.
Throughout its history, America has always feared anti-imperialist examples. From Iran and Guatemala in the 1950s to Cuba, Vietnam, Chile, and countless other countries, this fear has led to countless coups and interventions. In this process, whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg showed the truth of the Vietnam War, proving this fear was justified. However, Ellsberg escaped a long prison sentence thanks to the mistakes of the Nixon administration.
Assange’s close collaborator Chelsea Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for exposing US war crimes while serving in Iraq. After 7 years in prison, she was released thanks to one of the rare acts of clemency by Barack Obama in his final term. The Obama administration had decided not to prosecute Assange because a possible trial could lead to similar cases against other American media outlets.
The Iraq War Logs, the Afghan War Diaries, and more than two million diplomatic cables served the public interest. The US claimed that revealing the names in the documents could have dangerous consequences, but no concrete evidence was found. The real result was the exposure of US war crimes and diplomatic intrigues.
The documents leaked from the US Democratic National Committee before the 2016 elections increased the hatred towards Assange. There had even been suggestions before that Assange should be killed. When he was about to be extradited to Sweden on allegations of sexual crimes, Assange claimed that this was a ploy to be extradited to the US. This claim was met with skepticism by many at the time, but subsequent events showed that Assange was right.
His asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy became more difficult after the change of government in Quito. British officials were invited to the embassy to take Assange to Belmarsh. Like any human being, he may have personal flaws, but Assange and WikiLeaks have done a great service to the world. As America’s war-mongering in Europe and the Middle East continues, the world needs more WikiLeaks-type exposures and the freedom of journalists. This freedom also applies to Turkey and our journalist friends in Turkey’s prisons.
Julian Assange’s story once again highlights how difficult the struggle for journalism and freedom of expression is worldwide. A free and independent press is vital for every society, and protecting this freedom is essential for democracy.
Julian Assange created a significant debate and awareness by sharing these important documents with the world public. The truths revealed by WikiLeaks provided important information about the foreign policies of both the US and other countries and contributed to public awareness. However, these leaks dragged Assange into a dark process. Although Assange seems to have regained his freedom after years of legal battles targeted by the US, the struggle for press freedom and freedom of thought continues.
These documents demonstrate the important role they play in the struggle for freedom of expression and press freedom. Assange, advocating that access to information is a democratic right, has shown how critical it is to share the truth with the public.
As a journalist imprisoned behind bars by the ErdoÄŸan regime, Assange’s story is very important to me, and I am very happy for his release. Assange’s story is not limited to sharing sensational news. His legal struggle is also of great importance for the protection of press freedom and individual rights. In countries like Turkey, increasing pressures on press freedom continue parallel to Assange’s struggle. Protecting journalists and freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of democracy, and this struggle is a common problem of society, not just a single journalist.
