Assange detention ‘unlawful’, says United Nations

Assange, a former computer hacker who has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012, told the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. 

Reuters was unable immediately to confirm the BBC report and the UN said the panel’s opinion, which is not legally binding, was due to be published on Friday. The British police said Assange would face arrest if he leaves the embassy. 

The Australian, who jumped bail to take refuge in the embassy, is wanted in Sweden for questioning over allegations of rape in 2010, which he denies. “Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal,” Assange had said in a statement posted on the WikiLeaks Twitter account. “However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me.” 

Assange incensed the US and its allies by using his WikiLeaks website to leak secret US diplomatic and military cables in 2010, disclosures that often embarrassed Washington. Assange, 44, fears Sweden will extradite him to the United States.