CHRISTINE ASSANGE. MOTHER’S COURAGE
*Wikileaks founder Julian Assange yesterday lost his appeal in London’s Supreme Court to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over sexual assault accusations.
Mr Assange has been granted 14 days by the court to put in an application to reopen the case, after his lawyer, Dinah Rose QC, suggested the decision appeared to be based on a legal point that was not raised during the hearing.
Today Wikileaks supporters worldwide will rally to protest the court’s ruling which they fear will also lead to his extradition and imprisonment in the US.
By his side in London is Christine Assange, a mother fiercely dedicated to fighting for her son’s freedom.
Megan Kinninment interviewed Christine Assange in the lead-up to the court’s decision and found a woman under extraordinary pressure.
Julian Assange via Gawker.com.
All mothers worry about their kids. It goes with the territory.
Are they eating enough? Are they doing well at school? Will they be sent to America and be imprisoned and tortured? Oh, wait.
That last fear doesn’t crop up for most mothers, does it? For the mother of Wikileaks editor-in-chief, Julian Assange however, the fear is real.
As a journalist, I am fascinated by Wikileaks and its enigmatic Australian founder but as a mother I wonder how I would cope if it were my child under the spotlight of both the world’s media and the Pentagon. Last week I interviewed Christine Assange, 61, the mother of the man whose name returns over 28million results in a Google search.
I discovered a woman under extraordinary pressure.
In the coming days Julian Assange will hear the outcome of a UK Supreme Court appeal against extradition to Sweden to face questioning over sexual assault allegations made in 2010.
Christine Assange fears that once her son lands in Swedish soil he will be extradited to the US to be imprisoned for his role in publishing leaked secret diplomatic cables exposing the US government’s actions in the Iraq war.
Within seconds of ringing Christine Assange I sense I have entered a conflict zone and I am being briefed on the rules of engagement: There will be no face-to-face interview; any photo of her must be the side-on profile avatar she uses on Twitter (she wants to remain incognito in her new location); she will record our interview and insists I re-read her quotes to her before publication and stresses she wants “facts” in the story.
“I’m not doing this for myself, I am doing it for Jules,” she tells me.
And so begins the interview with a woman who is convinced not only is there a world-wide conspiracy against her son, but that his survival is intrinsically tied to the future of the free press and to democracy itself.
The stakes are high for Christine Assange.
She thinks her phones are being tapped; says she is trolled on Twitter and stalked in real life. She is having counselling.
She believes the Swedish allegations are revenge for the leaking of US diplomatic cables by Wikileaks in the same year, that her son has been framed.
She reveals to me where she is now living, only to retract the quote the next day, amending it to: “living in a secret location in Queensland, under a secret identity.”
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27 Responses to this article
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ANNE-MARIE ROCHET March 12, 2012
dear mrs Assange, iam with you all my heart and i understand this intolerable situation. Your son is a winner,and iam sure he wins this game of life. take care,make yoga,and think for the best,and it will be.
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LB March 12, 2012
its not that Christine “thinks” her phones are being tapped and she is being stalked…its not 1965 anymore….and having major political talking heads barking for Julian’s assassination…
realize what is
not what you perceive through your own lumpen bourgeoisie sensibilities which are a reflection of controlled mediammmk?
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Vanessa March 12, 2012
I absolutely agree Wendy, and thanks for publishing it. A great piece. This is not about Assange really. It’s about what you’d do if your child was caught in a situation like this. I sat next to David Hicks’ Dad on a plane once (when David was still in Guantanamo) and he was like any other parent – worried out of his mind. If my child was in this situation I would do anything I could to rescue him.
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Hildegardy March 12, 2012
This is a wonderful piece of enlightening journalism; news that offers us something beyond the agendas of the mainstream media.
My heart goes out to Christine Assange. I have no difficulty at all in believing that she is being stalked, tapped, trolled and generally persecuted. I hope for all our sakes that her courage will be rewarded by seeing her son go free and unhampered in his great project: to keep the public informed of things that the powerful would rather we didn’t know. -
mama mogantosh March 12, 2012
A terrifying situation for any mother. Her sense of hopelessness must be great. I’d love to read more. Thanks to Megan for bringing us a fresh perspective on this story.
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VanessaJ March 12, 2012
Sounds like this woman has had careful briefing from her son on how to permit an interview – sounds so familiar. Side profile indeed LOL.
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VanessaJ March 12, 2012
Re: “says she is trolled on Twitter ” – Christine Assange follows no one on twitter, so I suggest she goes looking for something to object to. Oh, and if you ask a civilised question on twitter, this is not actually trolling. What an obnoxious word anyway. The easiest thing Christine, would be to stop logging into twitter – this way you won’t see the nasties that upset you so much.
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VanessaJ March 12, 2012
Really? On your case? I’m not sure what that actually means. I thought I was simply making a comment – just because I don’t agree entirely with what has been said here, does not make me ‘on your case’. As to ‘have a care’ – is that a warning?
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Kaz March 12, 2012
I think regardless of the pros, cons, whether you support or not what Assange is alleged to have done with Wikileaks, this is about the lengths a mother will go to to support her son, and her perceptions of the lengths others will go to to harm her son. There’s no doubt that in a US jail, something horrific would happen to Assange, as it did the inmates of Guantanamo. In her shoes I have no doubt I’d be a similar crusader for my sons rights, his life, his freedom. And I’d be living sick with fear. As with Terry Hicks, this woman is nothing more than a mother who believes innately in her child and for that she should be applauded.
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Yasmine Bonner March 13, 2012
Christine you need to take stock of what Julian has done. I believe he deserves strength not weak kneed people surrounding him. There are a whole host of things in life that get thrown at us, and it takes an inner strength to get about you’re business without stomach ulcers. chin up, because thats what he needs, not helf issues.
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liza March 15, 2012
We must be fair .Vanessa may not have any kids and therefore may be unable to empathise with Christine Assange.
“Have a care” I understood as “Show compassion” Vanessa
My heart goes out to this mother and also to Julian Assange as he has some extraordinarily powerful forces directed against him.
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Sally March 25, 2012
Great piece Megan.
The anxiety she must feel. Truly awful for any mother. -
annie May 31, 2012
mothers anxiety is one thing, the world anxiety is another. I have known people to be persecuted for the one world order. if people are so taken up with watching soap opera television reading fairfax faxless news and believing its ok for a few to own and control the rest of the world ,then its all over.Why do you think people in the horn of Africa are starving, but I guess if your busy watching masterchef you wouldn’t know that.
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Cate May 31, 2012
Thank you for writing this, Megan. My heart goes out to Ms. Assange. What a dreadful time for her. I hope she is able to stay strong for Julian and herself.
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Kerrie May 31, 2012
If Julian Assange appeals again and loses again, it’s unlikely his feet will ever touch Swedish soil. He will be bundled straight on to a flight from Arlanda to the US, to stand trial on as-yet-unspecified charges. If our gutless government does its usual forelock-tugging routine, he risks being locked up indefinitely in some hellhole like GTMO. Meanwhile, spare a thought for Private Bradley Manning, who is being tried in secret and if convicted of the charge of giving aid to the enemy, could face life imprisonment. He also faces other charges, which carry a maximum combined penalty of 150 years. Christine Assange has every right to be terrified.
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The Huntress May 31, 2012
I’m sure I’ve read this interview before, however, I believe it’s of the utmost importance to keep Julian Assanges case in the spotlight. I have been actively supporting this case for over 18 months now and continue to raise the issues. We cannot forget the peril this man is in and his fight for transparency in democracy. At the very least we should be supporting him as an Australian, as one of us.
Gillard: Do not let Assange become your David Hicks. Fight to bring him home.
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L. Martin June 30, 2012
Yes, Yes, Yes
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Terri May 31, 2012
Why is this allowed to happen? Why is our govt not protecting our citizens? We see our politicians running in parliament (to escape a vote), why aren’t they running to defend an Australian? Anyone with half a brain can see what is going on, the the way the USA is blatantly perusing this is indicative of their disregard of Australia’s citizens rights. I am an Australian mother.. I expect more from my government. I am so sorry for his mum and so sorry for our country if this pans out like predicted.
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Peter June 6, 2012
It seems to me that Julian Assange is an intelligent and thoughtful man.
Before he leaked the emails, he knew exactly what was in them, and the angst and embarrasment that they would cause to western governments.
He also knew that if he treads on the toes of the big guys, then the big guys will tread back. And they have big feet, unlimited resources, and they can continue their revenge for a very long time. So he already knew what would be coming.
Goverments will chase him relentlessly until he dies of stress, or exhaustion, or both. And they have to do this to dissuade others from copycat actions.
So, knowing this already, in advance, why did he go ahead and do it anyway? Knowing that the fallout would directly impact his mother, family and friends.
Or maybe he just didn’t think of this, didn’t think of his mother, and others, didn’t care.
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Skitzi June 20, 2012
Peter: Yeah, he may have known what sort of backlash he would be getting if he did what he did. However, if nobody took the chance like he did, crooked governments all over the world would find it much easier to get away with the corruption they are now. We need more like him to expose the rot that goes on behind closed doors in government. We should all be proud of his efforts and stand behind him as should our gutless, corrupt government.
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Random June 25, 2012
‘Paranoid though she may sound’,seems to me a strange way to start that sentence, Megan, as you go on to say that she has good reason for her beliefs, and from the comments above many seem to agree with her. Do I believe the US gov wants to indict him for treason? Absolutely. I also believe the Aus government will not place his safety above its relationship with the US. To me, Christine is a hero mother. I hope I’d have her strength should my children face legal or political adversity.
