Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Granted Asylum In Ecuador
Aug. 16 2012, Published 12:15 p.m. ET
By Debbie Emery - Breaking Celebrity News Reporter
Two months after he took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the South American country has granted Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
Assange took refuge at the embassy on June 19 to avoid extradition from the UK to Sweden, where he faces questioning over assault and rape claims, which he denies, and Ecuador has since offered protection citing fears that his human rights would be violated.
“The government of Ecuador, faithful to its tradition of protecting those who seek refuge in its territory or in its diplomatic missions, has decided to grant diplomatic asylum to Julian Assange,” announced Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño, in a news conference in the Ecuadorean capital of Quito on Thursday, reported the New York Times.
“There are indications to presume that there could be political persecution,” and that Assange would not get a fair trial in the United States and "could face the death penalty there," he added. He also accused the UK of making an "open threat" to enter its embassy to arrest the political activist and of conducting an "explicit type of blackmail."
Assange, 41, described the asylum as a "significant victory" and warned the British foreign office that "Things will get more stressful now."
The Wikileaks creator is now protected from British arrest but only on Ecuadorean territory, leaving him vulnerable if he tries to head to an airport or train to leave the UK for Ecuador. Patiño said he hoped Britain would permit Assange to leave the embassy — a request Britain has rejected, saying it has a binding, legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden and if he steps foot outside the embassy he will be arrested.