Raggle-taggle of ‘household names’ provided huge sums in the direction of WikiLeaks founder’s failed bail plea
The already curious circumstance of Julian Assange took one more bizarre twist yesterday when the court learned that a raggle-taggle of “household names” had been ready to stake their status in his situation, offering sureties to the courtroom having a complete value of £180,000.
In spite of claiming not to know Assange, the film-maker Ken Loach as well as the socialite and charity fundraiser Jemima Khan stood before Westminster magistrates and offered big sums in direction of Assange’s bail, even though bail was later refused.
Offering £20,000, Loach mentioned he did not know Assange other than by status, but extra: “I feel the perform he has carried out has been a public service. I feel we’re entitled to understand the dealings of individuals that govern us.”
Khan provided a further £20,000, “or far more if want be”.
In a statement later, she explained: “I make no judgment of Julian Assange as an individual as I’ve by no means met him. I’m providing my assist to him as I imagine in the universal correct to freedom of data and our correct to become advised the truth.”
On her Twitter feed very last month, Khan requested if Assange was “the new Jason Bourne”, a reference towards the fictional action hero designed by the thriller writer Robert Ludlum. The publish has since been deleted.
The journalist and filmmaker John Pilger, who also supplied £20,000, mentioned he knew Assange as a journalist and private good friend and had a “very higher regard for him”.
The largest donation of £80,000 was provided by an unknown American relation who didn’t want to be named because of anxiety for his safety.
Patricia David, a professor, and also the leading lawyer Geoffrey Sheen each and every supplied up £20,000 surety on grounds that they’d invested their lives combating for human rights.
Exterior courtroom Pilger explained: “This enterprise in Sweden can be a travesty; an harmless man includes a correct to be free.
“Having his freedom taken absent is outrageous. Sweden really should be ashamed. This isn’t justice – this is outrageous.”
He additional: “Behind this he has manufactured lots of enemies, the principal one currently being the warmonger, the usa.”
Howard Riddle, the judge in the court in Horseferry Road, London, commended four of the sureties for their willingness to help “out of concern for human rights” and with out individual expertise of Assange.

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