If the allegations are false, Assange wouldn't be the first whistleblower to be falsely accused of a crime, nor would it be the first time women's bodies were used to make political points. Naomi Klein has claimed that 'rape is being used in the Assange prosecution in the same way women's freedom was used to invade Afghanistan'. Sometimes 'saving women' is an emotive political tactic, and a dishonest one. Falsely using the symbolism of the most violent of crimes against women's bodies as a way to shutdown Wikileaks would obviously be abhorrent, and would trivialize the real act of rape itself.
But if the allegations are true, why isn't rape seen as being a significant enough event for it to trump all the other political distractions? Why couldn't the Swedish prosecutors question him in the U.K, to determine well before now whether charges would be laid and to ensure a timely outcome of those charges for the alleged victims? Why can't Sweden place the emphasis purely on the allegations of sexual assault by categorically ruling out the possibility of Assange being sent to the U.S, so he can-as he has indicated he would do-face the allegations there?
Surely allegations of rape are serious enough to take centre stage and be legitimately investigated in their own right. But for as long as Sweden leaves open the possibility of U.S. extradition, it's as if the rape charges can only be considered while there remains--lurking in the shadows--the possibility of more serious criminal charges. Rape, then, becomes relegated: it's seen only as potential bait to catch what is being established as a much bigger, and seemingly more significant, fish.
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Assange's accusers deserve their right to seek justice just as much as Assange deserves his right to clear his name. But the act of rape deserves to be understood as a significant criminal act in its own right and to be duly investigated in a way that reflects the seriousness of the allegation.
For any hope of that to occur in this case, Sweden must guarantee Assange will not be extradited to the U.S.
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