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UN official urges UK, Sweden to respect Assange ruling

Xinhua, February 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

United Nations human rights expert Alfred de Zayas called on Monday for the United Kingdom and Sweden to implement UN working group on arbitrary detention rulings in the case of Julian Assange, who was first arrested in London in December 2010.

The working group recommended Assange's arbitrary detention end and that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected while invoking his enforceable right to compensation.

"The findings of the working group on arbitrary detention should be accepted and their recommendations implemented in good faith," de Zayas said in a statement.

"Especially those states who claim to be at the vanguard of human rights should give good example, even if they do not agree with the conclusions of UN experts," he added.

Assange's human rights infringements were triggered by an investigation by a Swedish prosecutor five years ago based on allegations of sexual misconduct.

To date, the investigation has made no progress and no charges have been formally brought against the founder of WikiLeaks.

A panel of experts found that Assange's detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation for 10 days in the first stage of detention and because of the Swedish prosecutor's lack of diligence in his investigations which resulted in Assange's lengthy detention.

The Australian was subject to 550 days of house arrest, during which period he sought refugee status at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London.

The Republic of Ecuador granted Assange asylum because of Assange's fear that if he were to be extradited to Sweden, he would then be sent to the United States to face serious criminal charges.

Assange has been unable to leave the embassy since August 2012, and is subject to extensive surveillance by British law enforcement. Endit