The CMPF is concerned that the arrest on April 11 of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will set a dangerous precedent for press freedom.
In 2010, as founder and director of WikiLeaks, Assange was central to exposing information of public interest relating to US human rights violations.
Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had been living since 2012.  
His arrest is based on his failing to surrender to the court and, as acknowledged by the UK Police and Home Office and US Justice Department, based on a charge for conspiracy to hack a computer of the United States government for which the US is seeking his extradition.
In response to Assange’s arrest CMPF Director Pier Luigi Parcu said –
“punishing Julian Assange too strongly could send a dangerous message to journalists and potential whistleblowers, deterring them from doing the important work of holding power to account.”
In particular the CMPF stresses that any consideration by the UK authorities of Assange’s extradition observe human rights protections granted to journalists under UK and European law and in particular implement the Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4[1] of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors. Specifically those measures which concern the protection of whistleblowers, the protection of journalistic sources and the freedom to impart confidential information.
The recommendations also caution against use of the the law to intimidate journalists and other acts which may have a chilling effect on freedom of the press.
“Member States must exercise vigilance to ensure that legislation and sanctions are not applied in a discriminatory or arbitrary fashion against journalists and other media actors. They should also take the necessary legislative and/or other measures to prevent the frivolous, vexatious or malicious use of the law and legal process to intimidate and silence journalists and other media actors…”
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