Statement on the release of Julian Assange and the Espionage Act precedent

Institutional communiqué

The International Journalism Club Velours welcomes with relief the news of Julian Assange’s release after more than five years of pretrial detention in the United Kingdom.

At the same time, we warn that the resolution of the case leaves a troubling precedent: a guilty plea, under the US Espionage Act, for obtaining and publishing classified information. Regardless of one’s views on him personally, publishing documents of public interest is a central activity of investigative journalism.

We urge states not to use national-security legislation against journalists and publishers, and to strengthen protection for sources and for those who expose abuses of power.