OF THE
TIMES
Julian Assange will not be executed if he's extradited to the US, Ecuador has reassured the world. This is good news for Assange, who will have a full life to live after completing his 175-year prison term.Also see:
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry announced that no matter what happens to Assange, the UK has promised that it would not extradite him to a country that will kill him. The soothing statement was issued ahead of the first London court hearing to decide if the Wikileaks co-founder will be shipped off to the US in shackles.
Amid so much doom over Assange's fate, it's refreshing to have a bit of optimism coming from Ecuador's conscientious diplomats. After revoking Assange's political asylum and allowing UK authorities to frog-march him out of their embassy, Ecuador is obviously deeply concerned about the journalist's well-being.
Instead of being executed for exposing war crimes, Assange currently faces up to 175 years in prison for publishing factual information that embarrassed powerful people.
Would he be allowed to leave the country if he was released prior to the 25th Feb hearing?
I guess it's only murderers and rapists who get early release from their sentences and that Assange will be forced to serve the full 50 weeks [Link]