Julian Assange says French President betrayed him

[struggle4progress]

Sep 19, 2015 | AFP | Paris

... “There had been direct contact between Francois Hollande and me. Text messages were exchanged through my French legal advisor. The French President gave encouraging signs,” Mr Assange said ...

In turning down his asylum request, Mr Hollande’s office had said Mr Assange’s situation “does not present an immediate danger”.

It added: “Furthermore, he is subject to a European arrest warrant.” The French presidency had no comment on Mr Assange’s claims on Friday.

http://www.asianage.com/international/julian-assange-says-french-president-betrayed-him-365

[KamaAina]

1. Now why would he think the president of France had any loyalty to him?

Because his name is Assange?

[struggle4progress]

2. Dunno. He seems to have published a letter in Le Monde in early July

to ask for French support, complaining that his life is in danger and that he is confined to five and a half square meters in Ecuador's embassy. France promptly announced it could not grant asylum.

http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2015/07/03/julian-assange-monsieur-hollande-accueillez-moi-en-france_4668919_3232.html
http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2015/07/03/l-elysee-rejette-la-demande-d-asile-de-julian-assange_4669082_4408996.html

[SidDithers]

3. Wait, shouldn't the rapist be free and clear by now?...

I read right here at DU that Assange would be leaving the Ecuadoran embassy three or four weeks ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027071323

Sid

[treestar]

6. Wed. Aug. 12

The charges were going to "expire."

[MohRokTah]

4. Julian Assange is a dick. eom

[treestar]

5. Seems useless

He would only be holed up in the French Embassy if he could even get there. Won't he be arrested the minute he leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy? The betrayal concept is ridiculous. Another bid for attention. Maybe someday he will be bored enough to come out and answer the Swedish questioners.

[tammywammy]

8. There no way for him to get out of the embassy and get somewhere else without stepping on UK soil

Even if another country offers him asylum, which won't happen, he still can't leave the Ecuadorian embassy. Once he steps out he'll be arrested.

[stevenleser]

9. But again, I thought the charges supposedly expired?

Who would arrest him and on what charge?

[tammywammy]

10. The rape charge is still out there until 2020.

Only some charges expired.

Edited to add: plus he's wanted for jumping bail anyway.

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. I gotta think prison in Sweden is on par with current arrangements

I mean, have y'all seen these Norwegian prisons on Locked Up International. Son, it's like a moderately priced condo in Minneapolis.

[struggle4progress]

13. Don't try to make Swedish prisons sound nice! They'll torture him to death!

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. He wants asylum from Sweden?

[struggle4progress]

11. Assange determined years ago that "Sweden is the Saudi Arabia Of feminism"

http://jezebel.com/5718817/assange-sweden-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-feminism

Major points of similarity between Saudi Arabia and Sweden could include things like: (1) some Swedish women believe that people having multiple casual sexual adventures should use a condom; and (2) Swedish law frowns on people boinking unconscious partners. Such archaic Swedish ideas might be regarded as resembling Saudi Arabian customs like public beheadings of folk for adultery