Wikileaks founder accused of rape

[LionElJonson]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11047025

Swedish authorities say they have issued an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, on accusations of rape and molestation. The warrant was issued late on Friday, said Karin Rosander, communications head at Sweden's prosecutors' office. Swedish police have been trying to contact Mr Assange, but have not yet been able to, she told the BBC. Wikileaks, criticised for leaking Afghan war documents, quoted him saying the charges were "without basis". The message, which appeared on Twitter and was attributed directly to Mr Assange, said the appearance of the allegations "at this moment is deeply disturbing". In a series of other messages posted on the Wikileaks Twitter feed, the whistle-blowing website said: "No-one here has been contacted by Swedish police", and that it had been warned to expect "dirty tricks".

Last month, Wikileaks published more than 75,000 secret US military documents on the war in Afghanistan. US authorities criticised the leak, saying it could put the lives of coalition soldiers and Afghans, especially informers, at risk. Mr Assange has said that Wikileaks is intending to release a further 15,000 documents in the coming weeks. Ms Rosander said there were two separate allegations against Mr Assange, one of rape and the other of molestation. She gave no details of the accusations. She said that as far as she knew they related to alleged incidents that took place in Sweden. Media reports say Mr Assange was in Sweden last week to talk about his work and defend the decision by Wikileaks to publish the Afghan war logs.

The allegations were first reported in the Swedish newspaper Expressen.

This isn't convenient at all. I'm not one usually given to these sorts of things, but given the sorts of things the US government was known to do during the Cold War, odds are that this is an attempt at character assassination?

[Mr. Coffee]

Or it could just be that the guy's a suspect in a rape investigation and the Swedish authorities want to talk to him. Seriously, why the knee-jerk assumption that it's part of some conspiracy? Either way, fuck Assange and if the allegations are true I hope the Swedish prison system issues inmates liquid soap (it takes longer to pick up if your drop it in the shower, yo).

[Mr Bean]

Because of who Julian Assange is and what wikileaks does I have to throw the caution flag on this one. On the one hand this man is the prime cause for lots and I do mean lots of official embarrassment for dozens of countries. This "rape" charge could very well be like something you see in the Indonesia or China where false charges are cooked up to get a troublemaker of the street. On the other hand, this is not Indonesia or China but Sweden.

Am I saying the charges are faked? No, but because of who the guy is I'm willing to entertain the possibility that something off here. And before anyone calls him doing a runner out of Sweden suspicion. That's his standard MO, he stays in most countries less than a week being housed by supporters or rarely staying in hotels supporters purchase rooms for him. Because of his work he keeps a low profile anytime he's not in front of camera's giving speechs. He has no permit address nor place of residence, cell phone or other method of contact besides the Internet.

Could he still be a rapist? Hell yes he could, but because of what he does like I said... keep an open mind.

[Patroklos]

Circle the wagons!

He should turn himself in for questioning regardless of what he thinks of the charges. It a new charge though, I can see an innocent man being a little hesitant given the circumstances and taking a few days to consider things.

[General Zod]

Circle the wagons!

He should turn himself in for questioning regardless of what he thinks of the charges. It a new charge though, I can see an innocent man being a little hesitant given the circumstances and taking a few days to consider things.

Especially when the police in a lot of countries like to assume guilty until proven innocent when it comes to rape charges. The stigma alone can be enough to seriously damage your reputation regardless of the eventual outcome.

[Cecelia5578]

Or it could just be that the guy's a suspect in a rape investigation and the Swedish authorities want to talk to him. Seriously, why the knee-jerk assumption that it's part of some conspiracy? Either way, fuck Assange and if the allegations are true I hope the Swedish prison system issues inmates liquid soap (it takes longer to pick up if your drop it in the shower, yo).

I see that you are a douchebag for making light of prison rape.

[Thanas]

Circle the wagons!

He should turn himself in for questioning regardless of what he thinks of the charges. It a new charge though, I can see an innocent man being a little hesitant given the circumstances and taking a few days to consider things.

Especially when the police in a lot of countries like to assume guilty until proven innocent when it comes to rape charges.

Not in sweden.

[Wedge]

Because of who Julian Assange is and what wikileaks does I have to throw the caution flag on this one. On the one hand this man is the prime cause for lots and I do mean lots of official embarrassment for dozens of countries. This "rape" charge could very well be like something you see in the Indonesia or China where false charges are cooked up to get a troublemaker of the street. On the other hand, this is not Indonesia or China but Sweden.

Am I saying the charges are faked? No, but because of who the guy is I'm willing to entertain the possibility that something off here. And before anyone calls him doing a runner out of Sweden suspicion. That's his standard MO, he stays in most countries less than a week being housed by supporters or rarely staying in hotels supporters purchase rooms for him. Because of his work he keeps a low profile anytime he's not in front of camera's giving speechs. He has no permit address nor place of residence, cell phone or other method of contact besides the Internet.

Could he still be a rapist? Hell yes he could, but because of what he does like I said... keep an open mind.

I hate conspiracy theories, especially 9/11 truthers or Zeitgeist inspired stuff, but in this case I think the same. He could be a rapist, but it smells rather fishy that the charges come up just now. I guess we'll have to wait and see, for the moment it could be either of the possibilities.

[Shroom Man 777]

Maybe it's COINTELPRO.

Has wikileaks given any specific information that has led to the deaths of innocents, aside from what Skimmer said about AQ/Taliban going "you're in the list!" and using that excuse to kill anyone they want?

[Captain Seafort]

The warrant's been cancelled

Swedish authorities have cancelled an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on accusations of rape and molestation.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority website said the chief prosecutor had come to the decision that Mr Assange was not suspected of rape.

The warrant was issued late on Friday.

Wikileaks, which has been criticised for leaking Afghan war documents, had quoted Mr Assange as saying the charges were "without basis".

That message, which appeared on Twitter and was attributed directly to Mr Assange, said the appearance of the allegations "at this moment is deeply disturbing".

In a series of other messages posted on the Wikileaks Twitter feed, the whistle-blowing website said: "No-one here has been contacted by Swedish police", and that it had been warned to expect "dirty tricks".

The Swedish Prosecution Authority website said chief prosecutor Eva Finne had come to the decision that Julian Assange was not suspected of rape and so was not subject to arrest. It said Eva Finne would make no further immediate comment.

[cosmicalstorm]

Latest in Swedish media is that the police is no longer looking for him. On many forums here in Sweden people noticed that there was something strange about this story and the way it moved into the media, the newspaper that reported it first has made numerous false stories over the past few years.

[cosmicalstorm]

They also managed to find the creepiest picture imaginable of him

[Einzige]

Or it could just be that the guy's a suspect in a rape investigation and the Swedish authorities want to talk to him. Seriously, why the knee-jerk assumption that it's part of some conspiracy? Either way, fuck Assange and if the allegations are true I hope the Swedish prison system issues inmates liquid soap (it takes longer to pick up if your drop it in the shower, yo).

Hurf durf, you're a REAL MAN.

[Shroom Man 777]

Haha, turns out it really was COINTELPRO. I said this to Loinstar when he AIMed that to me a few hours ago. Fucking J. Edgar Hoover!

Or it could just be that the guy's not a suspect in a rape investigation and the Swedish authorities don't want to talk to him. Seriously, why the knee-jerk assumption that it's not part of some conspiracy? Either way, don't fuck Assange and if the allegations aren't true I hope the Swedish prison system issues inmates non-liquid soap (it takes shorter to pick up if your drop it in the shower, yo).

[cosmicalstorm]

IIRC rape is very rare in the Swedish prison-system. There is a special prison (Skogome) for people who are convicted of sexual crimes.

[Serafina]

IIRC rape is very rare in the Swedish prison-system. There is a special prison (Skogome) for people who are convicted of sexual crimes.

IIRC, things like prison rape are only a constant issue in third-world shithole prisons. Such as many prisons in the USA.

It's really not a thing that happens regulary in european prisons (unless i am mistaken). Sure, perhaps one in a while - but not every day or the like.

[Vympel]

Edited the title. What a transparent smear campaign. Every purveyor of right wing sleaze will be smearing him with this from now until the end times.

[CJvR]

Well the latest on the matter is that he is no longer wanted, the prosecutor have revoked the arrest warrent. Although the investigation continues at the moment there seems to be nothing but the original accusation to back the charges up.

[Mr. Coffee]

Or it could just be that the guy's a suspect in a rape investigation and the Swedish authorities want to talk to him. Seriously, why the knee-jerk assumption that it's part of some conspiracy? Either way, fuck Assange and if the allegations are true I hope the Swedish prison system issues inmates liquid soap (it takes longer to pick up if your drop it in the shower, yo).

Hurf durf, you're a REAL MAN.

Nice +1 post ya made there, jackass. Seriously, if all you can do is spam then just shut the fuck up, you useless piece of shit.

[Thanas]

EInzige, Coffee, not another bitchfest please.

[[R_H]]

Were the molestation charges dropped as well, or just the rape charges?

[General Zod]

Were the molestation charges dropped as well, or just the rape charges?

. . .

Seriously? It's in the first line. The warrant was for both charges.

Swedish authorities have cancelled an arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on accusations of rape and molestation.

[Dominus Atheos]

So... Is there any even half-way likely other explanation for this besides "Swedish authorities try to trump up rape charges against political dissident"?

[Tiriol]

So... Is there any even half-way likely other explanation for this besides "Swedish authorities try to trump up rape charges against political dissident"?

Why would Swedish authorities do so? Even though most of the forum seems to believe that every single authority everywhere is ready and willing to abuse their powers, that doesn't automatically mean that it's so. Good heaven, it's SWEDEN, not some Third World shithole, some dictatorship or USA as imagined by the board population.

[loomer]

So... Is there any even half-way likely other explanation for this besides "Swedish authorities try to trump up rape charges against political dissident"?

Yes. 'Two women make an accusation against political dissident'.