WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s lawyer has complained about the UK prison authorities‘ tough dealings with his client. Assange was „handcuffed eleven times yesterday“ and was „stripped twice naked and taken to five different cells“ at Belmarsh Detention Center, said lawyer Edward Fitzgerald during the extradition process against Assange to a court in London.
Delivery process
Assange has been fighting a extradition to the United States in a London court since yesterday. There he faces 175 years in prison if convicted. Fitzgerald now warned that Assange’s treatment „could interfere with the procedure“. He asked Judge Vanessa Baraitser „to give the prison authorities a tip“ to ease the dealings with Assange.
Baraitser pointed out that this was a matter for prison officials and that they had no authority to instruct them on how to deal with prisoners. However, she expected Assange to be treated fairly and like everyone else, the judge added.
The 48-year-old Australian is detained during extradition proceedings at Belmarsh High Security Prison in southeast London. The first hearings will take place in London this week, and the process will continue in May.
