Julián Assange - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Julian Assange is an Australian journalist, computer programmer, and founder of the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.
- 2. He was born on July 3, 1971, in Townsville, Australia.
- 3. Assange gained worldwide fame in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a series of leaks provided by Chelsea Manning, including the Iraq War Logs and diplomatic cables that became known as Cablegate.
- 4. He sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced sexual assault allegations. He remained in the embassy for seven years before being arrested in April 2019.
- 5. Assange was charged by the United States with multiple counts of espionage related to the publication of classified documents. He is currently fighting extradition to the U.S.
- 6. He has been a controversial figure, with some considering him a champion of free speech and transparency, while others see him as a criminal who endangered national security.
- 7. Assange has received numerous awards for his journalism, including the 2008 Economist New Media Award and the 2011 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism.
- 8. He has been portrayed in various films and TV series, including "The Fifth Estate" starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Assange.
- 9. Assange's health has deteriorated during his time in confinement, with concerns raised about his mental and physical well-being.
- 10. His legal battles have sparked debates about press freedom, government transparency, and the role of whistleblowers in society.