Government faces fresh calls to release Assange as he spends his 49th birthday behind bars
THE Westminster government is facing fresh calls to free Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as 40 rights groups warn of the wider consequences of the US extradition bid on critical journalism.
Dozens of press freedom, human rights and privacy rights organisations from around the world sent an open letter to the PM yesterday demanding the release of Mr Assange from Belmarsh prison.
The letter coincided with the 49th birthday of the Wikileaks founder, who is facing extradition to the US after being indicted on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act in 2019.
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