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.
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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.
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What's happening?
Later today, a courtA place where matters of the law are decided by judges or juries. in LondonThe capital city of the United Kingdom. It has a total population of 14 million. is expected to decide whether or not Julian Assange 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 journalismThe process of making reports about events that are happening in the world and sharing news. , sharing dark secrets that powerful figures want to keep hidden. Critics say it is a group with an anti-Western 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. .
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 arrestedStopped by the police and taken to a police station. and sent to either the USA or SwedenA country in northern Europe with a population of just over 10 million. , where he was accused of sexual assault.
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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.
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Keywords
Court - A place where matters of the law are decided by judges or juries.
London - The capital city of the United Kingdom. It has a total population of 14 million.
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.
Journalism - The process of making reports about events that are happening in the world and sharing news.
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.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Sweden - A country in northern Europe with a population of just over 10 million.
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
Fight or flight: Assange spent seven years claiming asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy. Glossary
Court - A place where matters of the law are decided by judges or juries.
London - The capital city of the United Kingdom. It has a total population of 14 million.
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.
Journalism - The process of making reports about events that are happening in the world and sharing news.
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.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Sweden - A country in northern Europe with a population of just over 10 million.
Journalist - Somebody who writes about the latest news for newspapers and magazines or explains the news on television.