UK trampling Assange Human Rights: Ecuador
Iran Press TV
Wed May 29, 2013 8:42AM GMT
Ecuador's foreign minister says the British government has trampled on the human rights of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange by refusing to allow him to travel to Ecuador, where he has secured a political asylum.
Assange has taken refuge in Ecuador's embassy in London since last June to avoid extradition to Sweden by the British authorities.
The embassy is under 24-hour watch by the British police to ensure Assange is arrested if he leaves the mission’s building.
“By not granting him safe passage they are violating the human rights of a citizen, and every day that passes the effects of that violation hurt the person more and more," Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told Reuters on Tuesday.
“It’s a whole year that this gentleman has spent without feeling the sun and that's really serious ... because this decision has been taken by a state that says it protects human rights,” he added.
Ecuador's government said late last year said that Assange was suffering from lung problems.
Patino said the Ecuadorean government believes Britain is legally "obliged" to give Assange permission to leave the embassy and travel to South America.
He further stressed a legal document is being prepared in line with that argument stressing he hopes to discuss the issue with British Foreign Minister William Hague in "a matter of weeks or months."
AMR/HE
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