UN Panel: Assange ‘Unlawfully Detained’

A UN panel ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been “unlawfully detained.” Assange claimed asylum in London’s Ecuadorian embassy four years ago to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual-assault accusations. There is still a warrant for Assange’s detention, but the activist called for it to be dropped if the panel’s decision was made in his favor. He has not been charged with any offense, but is wanted for questioning in connection to allegations made against him by two women in Sweden. Assange presented his case to the UN in a last-ditch legal effort to fight the European extradition system, arguing his detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and prevents him from accessing the benefit of the asylum granted to him by Ecuador.