Swedish activist Anna Ardin is glad Julian Assange is free, even though she accused him of sexual assault 14 years ago. The accusations were shocking and made headlines worldwide, leading Assange to hide in a London embassy for seven years to avoid extradition to Sweden. Although Swedish authorities dropped their investigation in 2019, Assange spent five more years in a British prison fighting extradition to the US for leaking confidential information through WikiLeaks.
Despite their troubled past, Ardin supports WikiLeaks’ mission, believing people have the right to know about wars fought in their name. She describes Assange as a complex man, not a hero or monster, and insists his punishment was excessive. Ardin explains that she can separate Assange’s work from his actions towards women.
In her book, she details her encounter with Assange, saying he humiliated her during what she described as uncomfortable sex, believing he broke a condom deliberately. Another woman also accused him of non-consensual sex. Assange denied all allegations, claiming they were part of a US plot against him due to WikiLeaks’ leaks.
Ardin faced significant backlash and harassment, forcing her to leave Sweden for a while. Many still see her as part of a conspiracy against Assange. Despite these challenges, she maintains her belief in forgiveness and transparency.
Ardin wishes Assange had faced trial for the alleged assault but accepts he won’t, so she is trying to move on. She criticizes the media and some of Assange’s supporters for turning him into a hero while vilifying her. She believes that people, even influential ones, should not get away with crimes just because they have power.
According to Ardin, true justice would have been transparency and Assange acknowledging his wrongs. She stresses the importance of leaders owning up to their actions to prevent such behavior in the future. If she could speak to Assange now, she would urge him to reflect on his actions and admit he was wrong.
This summary was adapted from a report by the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1jgv3knnwo