Are Liberals Too Eager to Believe Sex Charges Against Julian Assange?

[JDPriestly]

53. "letting him play the appeals process for all it was worth"

That statement in post number 25 puts the problem in perspective.

Assange had the right to an appeals process.

Appeals are a normal part of the legal process. And that they take a long time is also perfectly normal.

But some have convicted Assange in advance. Even though not one of them can point to a bit of evidence other than one vague statement by one woman, they have decided that he really did rape someone. Therefore, they claim, he is not entitled to what we in the English-speaking world pretty unanimously consider due process.

That is why those of us who support the rule of law are so suspicious. That is why we are saying no dice to the extradition of Assange to Sweden. We may not be able to influence the outcome, but we have seen this kind of maneuvering far too often, especially in recent years and we are speaking our consciences.

The charge against Assange would be virtually impossible to prove, and there appears to be no evidence other than one person's "concern" to support it. It may be true, but the evidence that someone desperately wants to get Assange to Sweden for some strange, unknown purpose other than to face these dubious charges, seems much more likely to many of us.

Assange is entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Many are not giving that to him.