RSF decry decision to block Assange UK prison visit

LONDON — The head of media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticised the "absurd" decision by UK prison officials to prevent him visiting Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on Tuesday.

RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire said he and a colleague had prior "official authorisation" to meet Assange at the Belmarsh high security jail in southeast London but were then denied entry.

Assange, 51, has been held there since 2019 as he appeals against UK approval of his extradition to the United States, where he is wanted to face espionage charges.

He could face decades in jail if found guilty.

"We are deeply disappointed by the arbitrary decision of the Belmarsh prison governor to prevent us from visiting Julian Assange, despite following all relevant prison procedures and rules," Deloire said.

He added that the jail's governor "took the decision to remove our names from the visitors list since we are journalists".

Branding the decision "absurd" and demanding its reversal, Deloire argued Assange "has the right to receive visitors in prison, and we are legitimate to visit him as a press freedom NGO".

Assange's wife Stella, who was permitted to visit him, also hit out at the "ludicrous" decision, saying the RSF meeting was "long-planned" and important.

"Julian's presence in this prison is a scandal on every level," she told reporters in front of the jail complex.

A prison service spokesperson said staff had prevented two RSF representatives from entering Belmarsh "on the basis that they were journalists" which is "in line with prison rules".

"We will be happy to reconsider future requests to visit the prison, taking into account any additional information that is provided," the spokesperson added.

Assange is wanted to face trial for allegedly violating the US Espionage Act by publishing military and diplomatic files in 2010, related to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Supporters portray him as a martyr to press freedom after he was taken into UK custody following a years-long stay in Ecuador's embassy.

Last November, five of the Western world's leading newspapers issued a joint call for the United States to drop its prosecution of him.