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French President Denies Julian Assange’s Request for Protection French President Denies Julian Assange’s Request for Protection
(about 3 hours later)
PARIS — The French president on Friday rejected an appeal for protection from Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks co-founder, who has spent three years under political asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. PARIS — The French president on Friday rejected an appeal for protection from Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks co-founder, who has spent three years under political asylum in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London.
Mr. Assange made the request in a 2,700-word open letter, in French, that was published Friday on the website of Le Monde and addressed to President François Hollande.Mr. Assange made the request in a 2,700-word open letter, in French, that was published Friday on the website of Le Monde and addressed to President François Hollande.
Mr. Assange said he was appealing to France because he sensed an openness to the idea of being granted asylum, citing comments made by Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, and because he had a child whose mother is French.Mr. Assange said he was appealing to France because he sensed an openness to the idea of being granted asylum, citing comments made by Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, and because he had a child whose mother is French.
He has never disclosed the existence of the child before. In the letter, he did not name the child or the child’s mother or say where in France they were living. He has never publicly disclosed the existence of the child before. In the letter, he did not identify the child or the mother, or say where they were living.
Mr. Hollande’s office rejected the idea almost immediately, saying Mr. Assange had not submitted a formal request for asylum, “did not face immediate danger” and was subject to a Swedish arrest warrant.Mr. Hollande’s office rejected the idea almost immediately, saying Mr. Assange had not submitted a formal request for asylum, “did not face immediate danger” and was subject to a Swedish arrest warrant.
On a French television station, BFM TV, on Thursday, Ms. Taubira said she would not be “shocked” if Mr. Assange or Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency consultant who disclosed thousands of secret documents and is now living in Russia, were given asylum in France. However, she made it clear that the decision was up to Mr. Hollande; the French prime minister, Manuel Valls; and the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius.On a French television station, BFM TV, on Thursday, Ms. Taubira said she would not be “shocked” if Mr. Assange or Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency consultant who disclosed thousands of secret documents and is now living in Russia, were given asylum in France. However, she made it clear that the decision was up to Mr. Hollande; the French prime minister, Manuel Valls; and the foreign minister, Laurent Fabius.
Mr. Assange’s lawyer, Baltasar Garzón, clarified that the letter was not an official asylum application. Mr. Assange’s lawyer, Baltasar Garzón, said that the letter was not an official asylum application.
Sweden has sought to question Mr. Assange on allegations from 2010 of sexual misconduct involving two women. Mr. Assange has denied the allegations. Sweden has sought to question Mr. Assange on allegations of sexual misconduct in 2010 involving two women. Mr. Assange has denied the allegations. The United States is also investigating his involvement in the disclosure of thousands of secret documents obtained by a former American soldier, Chelsea Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning at the time.
The United States also is investigating his involvement in the disclosure of thousands of secret documents obtained by a former American soldier, Chelsea Manning. In his letter, Mr. Assange said the living conditions at the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he has been since 2012, were poor: There was little space, and he was not able to go outside. “I have at my disposal five and a half square meters for my private use,” he wrote in the letter. He has been trying to leave the embassy for some time.
In his letter, Mr. Assange said the living conditions at the Ecuadorean Embassy, where he has been since 2012, were poor: There was little space, and he was not able to go outside. “I have at my disposal five and a half square meters for my private use,” he wrote in the letter. “Access to fresh air and sunlight was denied by the authorities of the United Kingdom; so was the possibility of being taken to a hospital,” he wrote. British officers are permanently posted guard outside the embassy.
“Access to fresh air and sunlight was denied by the authorities of the United Kingdom; so was the possibility of being taken to a hospital,” he wrote. British officers have stood guard outside the embassy, ready to arrest him if he leaves.
“Far from the image of luxury generally associated with diplomatic compounds, this modest space was never meant to be a place to live,” he wrote.“Far from the image of luxury generally associated with diplomatic compounds, this modest space was never meant to be a place to live,” he wrote.