SXSW Sydney: ‘The law criminalises journalism’ – Julian Assange lawyer says case set ‘terrible precedent’ for publishers
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 15: Jennifer Robinson speaks during the conference at SXSW Sydney on October 15, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Nina Franova/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney)
Australian human rights lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, has reflected on Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s return to Australia earlier this year, and why it represents such a “bright spot in such troubling times” as the right to free speech continues to be scrutinised and journalists continue to be attacked for speaking the truth.
Delivering a keynote speech at SXSW Sydney on Tuesday, Robinson – who was a long-standing member of Assange’s legal team – re-lived the moment Assange came home and why it was a win for journalism and free speech, but also why his prosecution should raise red flags for journalists and publishers everywhere.
“What we’re seeing around the world, and indeed at home in Australia, is that these hard fought wins – our right to free speech, our right to protest – are being attacked and undermined every day,” Robinson began.
“Julian’s release was such a bright spot in such troubling times, and touching down with him in Canberra was a remarkable experience.”
For 14 years, Assange was placed under all forms of restrictions of liberty for publishing evidence of war crimes and human rights abuses – prison, house arrest, seven-and-a-half years in the Ecuadorian embassy, five in a high-security prison – “all for the same publications he’s won journalism awards the world over and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize each year”.
Robinson delivering her keynote at SXSW Sydney on Tuesday. (Photo by Nina Franova/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney)
In effect, he had to plead guilty to committing journalism, Robinson said, “and award-winning journalism at that”.
While his release followed 14 years of legal battles and many brilliant lawyers working to defend him, Robinson said it was also made possible because of the community support in Australia and around the world to pressure governments and campaign against his prosecution.
“It’s because of the global movement for free speech, that made it politically impossible for the United States to continue doing what they were doing,” she continued. “And it was the community support that led to the diplomacy of our Prime Minister that enabled the negotiations, that resulted in a very important outcome.”
But the fact of the matter is, Julian being prosecuted is a “terrible precedent” and should be troubling to journalists and publishers everywhere, according to Robinson.
Assange
“The reality is that the law criminalises journalism, and Julian may well have been the first journalist prosecuted, but depending on what happens with the US election, I don’t think he’ll be the last,” she said.
“Journalists are so important… to show us the truth, to hold governments accountable. But they are being silenced, or chilled into silence after seeing the consequences that others are facing. Look at Gaza, Palestinian journalists are being killed over what they publish. It’s unacceptable – killing is the ultimate act of silencing.
“This needs to change. It needs to change because I, for one, don’t want to live in a world where people like Julian go to prison while those responsible for war crimes don’t face accountability… we need to continue to stand up for people who are being targeted for telling the truth about war crimes.”
Related Content
SUBSCRIBE
Sign up to our free daily update to get the latest in media and marketing.
