ulian Assange, the 52-year-old Australian founder of WikiLeaks, has emerged as a potent symbol in the global discourse on press freedom and freedom of expression. He has been recently released from a UK prison after five years of incarceration. Assange’s case underscores the complexity and challenges faced by journalists and whistleblowers worldwide. He has finally arrived in his native Australia after pleading guilty to one count out of 18 brought against him by the US authorities. Under the Espionage Act, he pleaded guilty in the Northern Mariana Islands’ court for one count, resulting in the extradition request being dropped. He will not face any other charges.

Assange, arrested under the Espionage Act, was accused of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified information. In a plea deal negotiated with US prosecutors, Assange pled guilty to one count and the remaining 17 charges were dropped. The deal, facilitated by a request from the Australian prime minister, led to the US withdrawing its extradition request and agreeing to count the time Assange had been in a British prison towards his sentence.

Despite his release, the implications of the Espionage Act for press freedom remain a contentious issue. US prosecutors argued that Assange’s actions resembled those of a hacker and activist rather than a journalist and that they endangering the lives of US sources and contacts. This perspective, however, was met with staunch opposition from press and civil liberties advocates who view the criminal charges against Assange as a direct threat to free speech.

Assange founded WikiLeaks in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2010 that the organisation gained global prominence. That year, WikiLeaks published a series of leaks provided by Chelsea Manning, a former US Army soldier. Among the disclosures was a video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. The release of over 250,000 US diplomatic cables followed, igniting international debate and scrutiny of American foreign policy.

The WikiLeaks revelations about unreported civilian casualties during the war in Afghanistan and other confidential documents highlighted significant issues and sparked global reaction. Assange’s work brought to light the dark realities of war and secrecy. It also led to his legal troubles and eventual arrest.

Assange’s release has been met with a mix of relief and criticism. Several international organisations including the International Federation of Journalists have hailed his release as a victory for media freedom. They have also emphasised the importance of protecting journalistic practices. Dominique Prada Lie, the federation’s president, has stated that the dropping of charges against Assange marked a victory for the right to inform and be informed.

The National Union of Journalists and PEN America have echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need to defend journalism and protect journalists from persecution. On the other hand, several politicians, including former US vice president Mike Pence have criticised the plea deal. They have argued that Assange’s actions endangered national security and military personnel.

Born in 1971 in Townsville, Queensland, Assange was recognised early for his computer programming skills. In 1995, he faced fines for hacking offences. His academic pursuits included a bestselling book on the subversive side of the internet.

Assange’s personal life, too, has been marked by controversy. Among other things he has been accused of rape in Sweden. He denies the charge. In 2010, after a UK court ruled that he could be extradited to Sweden, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. He remained there for almost seven years. However, the asylum was revoked in 2019, leading to his arrest by UK authorities at the request of the United States.

During his time in the UK prison, Assange’s relationship with his partner, Stella Moris, flourished. The couple, who began their relationship in 2015, have two children. In 2022, they married inside the Belmarsh prison. Six guests, including Assange’s two brothers and his father, attended the wedding.

The writer is a correspondent in London for Geo News, Daily Jang and The News International