Julian Assange: The Unyielding Battle for Journalism and Freedom

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, declared his release after years of incarceration was due to his commitment to journalism. Addressing the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Assange highlighted the impact of his detention and conviction on his life and underscored the significance of exposing military secrets. His case has sparked debates on journalism and national security.

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, announced Tuesday that he was released after years of imprisonment because he 'pled guilty to journalism.' Assange shared the effects of his detention and conviction with the legal affairs and human rights committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France.

Supporters, holding a 'Thank you, Julian' banner, cheered as Assange emerged from a van, smiling and raising his fist, alongside his wife, Stella, and WikiLeaks editor-in-chief, Kristinn Hrafnsson.

'Assange is free! We are here. The world is with you,' one supporter shouted before Assange's first public address since his release in June.

'I am not free today because the system worked,' Assange stated, 'I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism.' He elaborated on his plea to seeking and disseminating information to the public. Released in June after five years in a British jail, Assange had earlier spent seven years in asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

Assange described his prison experience as a 'profound and surreal shift,' detailing isolation in a small cell that stripped away his sense of self. His voice cracked as he apologized for 'faltering words' and an 'unpolished presentation.'

Accused of publishing war logs and diplomatic cables revealing US military misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan, Assange was both lauded by press freedom advocates and criticized for endangering national security. Among the leaks was a 2007 Apache helicopter attack video showing the killing of 11 people.

Assange's legal saga concluded with his guilty plea to espionage and conspiracy charges in a US district court, resulting in a five-year sentence already served in the UK. Returning to Australia in late June, Assange's wife noted he needed time to recuperate.

His recent appearance coincided with a Council of Europe report condemning his harsh treatment and recognizing him as a political prisoner.