03:23UK: Assange extradition case is 'show trial' - John Pilger *PARTNER CONTENT*
Australian journalist and filmmaker John Pilger said the a British court's decision not to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a delay to the proceedings and timetable of his extradition hearing to the United States was "appalling" and "preordained." Pilger spoke to RT's Afshin Rattansi in London on Tuesday.
"It was an atrocious event," Pilger said of the hearing on Monday at the Westminster Magistrates court, calling District Judge Vanessa Baraitser "biased."
Pilger said the decision to go ahead with the extradition hearing had been determined beforehand "regardless of anything to do with a court, regardless of any defence argument."
"I have sat on a number of courts, all over the world, I've never seen anything like this. It belonged in a show trial."
He went on to discuss Assange's current physical condition, saying the whistleblower had lost 15 kilograms (33 lbs) of weight in prison, adding that he was being "isolated" on purpose.
"When he walks through the prison, the other prisoners are put back in their cells. So that he can't fraternize with them, he is only allowed to talk to people in the so-called healthcare," said Pilger.
Assange completed his sentence for skipping bail on September 22, but remained in jail as a judge believed he could flee before his US extradition hearing.
He is facing the extradition request on espionage charges related to the publication of classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010.
03:23Australian journalist and filmmaker John Pilger said the a British court's decision not to grant WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange a delay to the proceedings and timetable of his extradition hearing to the United States was "appalling" and "preordained." Pilger spoke to RT's Afshin Rattansi in London on Tuesday.
"It was an atrocious event," Pilger said of the hearing on Monday at the Westminster Magistrates court, calling District Judge Vanessa Baraitser "biased."
Pilger said the decision to go ahead with the extradition hearing had been determined beforehand "regardless of anything to do with a court, regardless of any defence argument."
"I have sat on a number of courts, all over the world, I've never seen anything like this. It belonged in a show trial."
He went on to discuss Assange's current physical condition, saying the whistleblower had lost 15 kilograms (33 lbs) of weight in prison, adding that he was being "isolated" on purpose.
"When he walks through the prison, the other prisoners are put back in their cells. So that he can't fraternize with them, he is only allowed to talk to people in the so-called healthcare," said Pilger.
Assange completed his sentence for skipping bail on September 22, but remained in jail as a judge believed he could flee before his US extradition hearing.
He is facing the extradition request on espionage charges related to the publication of classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010.