UNITE is backing the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) campaign against the detention of Julian Assange pending extradition proceedings.

The NUJ had written a letter to union general secretaries in Britain to raise concerns over the attempted use of the US Espionage Act to prosecute the WikiLeaks founder for having exposed US war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Unite echoed the NUJ’s call for unions to support its strong opposition to Mr Assange’s persecution and the plans to extradite him to the US.

Both unions have warned that the Espionage Act has been used in the past to jail trade unionists and criminalise whistle-blowing.

Unite said that it “applauds” the NUJ’s campaign that also draws attention to concerns over freedom of speech and press freedom as a result of the unprecedented action against Mr Assange.

In the letter dated November 6 sent to union general secretaries, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “It is vital that we build a campaign to oppose Mr Assange’s extradition and prosecution that is located in the mainstream of progressive concerns, and only trades unions have the reach to achieve this.”

She asked them to circulate a model motion, adopted by the NUJ’s national executive council, to union executives, branches and workplace organisations.

The Don’t Extradite Assange campaign has welcomed the letter, adding that train drivers’ union Aslef has already adopted a national policy to support the campaign.

Mr Assange is in Belmarsh high-security prison as his trial continues, despite more than 60 doctors from around the world concluding that his physical and mental health has deteriorated to such an extent that he is in no fit state to stand trial.

Prior to imprisonment, Mr Assange took refuge in Ecuador’s embassy in London for seven years before the Metropolitan Police dragged him out in 2019.