This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Nils Melzer, has expressed deep concern over the treatment of Julian Assange, warning that it may soon end up costing his life.
On May 9, Melzer visited Assange in a London prison, nearly a month after his arrest at Ecuador's embassy where he had been holed up for seven years. Melzer had previously warned that Assange was being subjected to drawn-out 'psychological torture.'
Although Melzer has not met Assange since, he told AFP in an email that his growing concern was based on 'new medically relevant information received from several reliable sources.'
This information indicated that Assange's health had entered a downward spiral of progressively severe anxiety, stress, and helplessness typical for persons exposed to prolonged isolation and constant arbitrariness.
"While the precise evolution is difficult to predict with certainty, this pattern of symptoms can quickly develop into a life-threatening situation involving cardiovascular breakdown or nervous collapse," Melzer warned.
Melzer pointed out that he had demanded in May that London immediately take measures to protect Assange's health and dignity, but the UK Government has shown 'outright contempt' for Assange's rights and integrity.
Assange continues to be detained under oppressive conditions of isolation and surveillance, not justified by his detention status. He had completed his prison sentence for violating his British bail terms in 2012 and is now being held exclusively in relation to the pending extradition request from the United States.
Assange is facing the extradition request by the US over charges he violated the US Espionage Act by publishing a huge cache of military and diplomatic files in 2010.
