"We ask that Julian Assange be released, rehabilitated (and) returned to his family, that he can finally live normally", launched Dominique Pradalié, president of the international federation of journalists (IFJ) - which claims 600,000 members in more than 140 countries - at a press conference.

On June 17, the British government announced that it had signed the decree for the extradition to the United States of the 50-year-old Australian, detained in the high security prison of Belmarsh, near London, for three years.

Mr. Assange is being prosecuted in the United States, where he faces 175 years in prison for having published in 2010 on his WikiLeaks site more than 700,000 confidential documents relating to the activities of the American army, in particular in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This sets a very dangerous precedent for press freedom," added Mika Beuster, co-head of the Association of German Journalists, which has 30,000 members.

"By extraditing Assange, we are taking democracy hostage", proclaimed Pierre Ruetschi, director of the Swiss Press Club and organizer of the event.

"The appeal asks the British authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Julian Assange," he added.

"This attempt to criminalize journalism is serious."

Mr. Assange was charged in the United States with "espionage" in May 2019, under a law passed in 1917 to prevent the disclosure of confidential information in time of war.

Dominique Pradalié, President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) at a press conference to demand the release of Julian Assange, June 22, 2022 in Geneva Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

"What is espionage? It is to have only done your job as a journalist, that is to say to have received information, to have verified it and to have transmitted it", declared Ms Pradalié, whose organization is in "permanent contact" with Mr. Assange's entourage.

The American authorities, who consider that Mr. Assange is neither a journalist nor a press editor, accuse him of having endangered military agents and sources.

"What example are we given that one of these revelations has endangered anyone (...)? We still ask for them today, we don't have them", criticized the Frenchwoman.

Mr Assange has announced that he will appeal the decision in the UK courts within two weeks – the time limit set by law – before turning to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

Demonstration in support of Julian Assange against his extradition to the United States, on June 20, 2022 in Athens Louisa GOULIAMAKI AFP

"If Julian Assange is released, we will have stolen ten years of his life anyway", concluded, indignantly, Ms. Pradalié.

The founder of WikiLeaks was arrested by British police in 2019, after having taken refuge for seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

© 2022 AFP