I visited Julian Assange in prison, what can you do? - DiEM25
https://diem25.org/i-visited-julian-assange-in-prison-what-can-you-do/
As I was visiting Julian in the Embassy last November, I couldn’t get rid of the thought that he is, just like Gramsci, a political prisoner whose thoughts about the complex issues and challenges of the early 21st century were of great value for the cognitive mapping of our crazy world.
Whether he was thinking or speaking about the role of institutions and the importance of transparency, about technology or geopolitics, Julian was always not only the best informed one but also someone who’s ability to “zoom out”, to grasp and understand the “big picture”, connecting all the dots (and facts) has certainly led to a better understanding of today’s world. From various military interventions to military coups, from war crimes to human rights violations.
Clearly, from the beginning of his imprisonment, Assange, just like Gramsci, decided that his struggle will not end there. But unlike Gramsci, Julian is still not able to write prison notebooks, and we hope he won’t be writing them in prison. But that depends also on you.
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Last time we talked he still had an uncertain future, this time it was quite clear – unless he is freed, he might die in prison, to repeat the words of his father John Shipton, and Nils Melzner UN Special Rapporteur on Torture who recently warned that Julian’s life is now at risk. Everyone should read what Craig Murray has written about in “Assange in Court“. So obviously most of our conversation – surveilled all the time, of course – pertained to his situation and the danger he is facing.
Even though he has visibly suffered since the last time saw each other, even though he has lost 15 kilos in weight, and even though his life might be at risk, Julian was fully focused. Perhaps he was pausing more than usual, taking more time to gather his thoughts, sometimes struggling, visibly shaken by difficult prison conditions, but at the same time he used his usual dark humor, unexpected analogies and abstract thought. We talked about how his case was not just about him – although it is clearly about his life – how it is about human rights, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and last but not least, democracy.
He was really glad to hear about all the actions and events organised by his supporters across the world, from the WE ARE MILLIONS exhibitions across Europe to the Australian endeavours to bring Julian home. Just later that day, John and I joined a protest, in front of the UK Home Office where hundreds of people gathered for the concert by rappers M.I.A. and Lowkey.
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Once you exit the high-security prison, once you are suddenly back “outside”, back to “your normal life”, while he is still “inside” waiting for a letter or another short visit, most of his time completely alone in his cell, what you’ve just been through hits you like a belated arrow: why is Julian not able to exit these doors? Why is he not able to spend time with his family and friends, to recover from the 10 years of persecution? Why is he not free to go to a concert by Rage Against the Machine? Why is he not teaching at a UK University, definitely a better way of using his talents, instead of suffering in prison? And so many other questions.
That short moment of happiness was perhaps a message in a bottle from a better – and still possible – future, but what about the rest of the 23 hours in his solitary cell? He said I should tell you that he uses his time in a cell to walk and think, around 10-15 km each day, imagining he is walking across Europe.
He reads the letters, although they are still coming in with much delay. And he is grateful to everyone. And even in this difficult situation, he said it is not just about him, it is about the very essence of democracy