Wikileaks founder Julian Assange shows all the symptoms of psychological torture and risks having his human rights violated if he is extradited to the US, a United Nations expert has said.
Melzer met with Assange on May 9 in Belmarsh Prison in London, and conducted a medical on the publisher. Weeks earlier, Assange was arrested after spending seven years living inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
«It was obvious that Mr. Assange’s health has been seriously affected by the extremely hostile and arbitrary environment he has been exposed to for many years,» Melzer said.
He added Assange was subjected to «oppressive isolation, harassment and surveillance inside the embassy,» as well as «deliberate collective ridicule, insults and humiliation.» Assange appeared frail and bearded as he was dragged by police from the embassy, having had virtually no access to sunlight during his lengthy stint there.
Melzer added that Assange’s visits from his lawyers are being kept short and infrequent, and he is unable to access legal documents and case files, making it «impossible» for him to prepare his legal defense properly.
On Thursday, Wikileaks expressed «grave concerns» about Assange’s health and said he had been moved to the medical wing of his prison.
