Is Julian Assange a hero? The journalist-activist has been fighting a legal battle for his freedom for 14 years. Today may decide if he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
WikiLeaks founder faces 175 years in US jail
Is Julian Assange a hero? The journalist-activist has been fighting a legal battle for his freedom for 14 years. Today may decide if he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
What's happening?
Julian Assange is fighting for his future.
Later today, a court in London is expected to decide whether or not he should be sent from the UK to the USA to face spying charges. If he goes back to the USA, he could be sent to prison for 175 years.
Assange is the founder of WikiLeaksA whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals. , an international group that publishes secret documents leakedShown to people without permission. to it from governmentsGroups of people who govern - or lead - countries. around the world.
Supporters call its work citizen journalism, sharing dark secrets that powerful figures want to keep hidden. Critics say it is a group with an anti-WesternRefers to broad opposition, bias, or hostility towards the people, culture, or policies of the Western world. biasBiases are beliefs that systematically and unfairly distort a person's decisions, in favour or against one group or another. and a close relationship to dictatorsRulers with total power over a country. .
Although it has leaked documents from many governments, the most controversial leaks have come from the USA. The USA accuses WikiLeaks of putting lives in danger, although it has never proved that anyone was harmed due to the leaks.
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WikiLeaks claim it does not have an anti-Western bias and many of its most important stories had nothing to do with the US.
From 2012 to 2019, Assange lived in the EcuadorianEcuador is a South American country with a population of nearly 18 million. embassyThe workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country. in London. He was avoiding being arrested and sent to either the USA or Sweden, where he was accused of sexual assault.
Is Julian Assange a hero?
Yes! Assange is a journalist Somebody who writes about the latest news for newspapers and magazines or explains the news on television. who dared to share key information that others were too afraid to publish. He has paid a terrible price for his brave actions.
No! Some say Assange was not careful enough about the information he shared. His work could have put people in danger.
Keywords
WikiLeaks - A whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals.
Leaked - Shown to people without permission.
Governments - Groups of people who govern - or lead - countries.
anti-Western - Refers to broad opposition, bias, or hostility towards the people, culture, or policies of the Western world.
Bias - Biases are beliefs that systematically and unfairly distort a person's decisions, in favour or against one group or another.
Dictators - Rulers with total power over a country.
Ecuadorian - Ecuador is a South American country with a population of nearly 18 million.
Embassy - The workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country.
Journalist - Somebody who writes about the latest news for newspapers and magazines or explains the news on television.
WikiLeaks founder faces 175 years in US jail
Glossary
WikiLeaks - A whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals.
Leaked - Shown to people without permission.
Governments - Groups of people who govern - or lead - countries.
anti-Western - Refers to broad opposition, bias, or hostility towards the people, culture, or policies of the Western world.
Bias - Biases are beliefs that systematically and unfairly distort a person's decisions, in favour or against one group or another.
Dictators - Rulers with total power over a country.
Ecuadorian - Ecuador is a South American country with a population of nearly 18 million.
Embassy - The workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country.
Journalist - Somebody who writes about the latest news for newspapers and magazines or explains the news on television.