Assange Will Be Born Again, Soon. Birthday Reflections on His 49th

Isn’t it time for Assange to re-emerge into the world, out of the bellows of Belmarsh? As his 49th birthday approaches (July 3, 1971), I cannot fully wish him a “Happy Birthday Julian” because I understand, deeply, that when a person is being tortured, s/he loses track of time, days, months and only wishes for the torture to stop. I do wish him a good day. I am grateful he is alive and I believe it is important to mark the day.

My birthday wish for Julian Assange is this:

The torture will stop. You will come out into the world again. You will be born again in so far as you are a very different person from when you were detained in Wandsworth (Dec. 2010). We have missed you. We haven’t seen you, heard your voice, watched interviews of you for so long.

I want you to be with your boys, with your dad, Stella, lawyers, doctors and supporters. You are welcome back into the world. You have been hidden and harmed behind bars and we are doing everything we can to get you back into society.

I wish for your second birth as your 49th day of first birth approaches.

You have evolved, survived and you are ready for “labour”.

Much love, solidarity, hope, gravitas and joy to you Julian, in that awful place.

Much love

~jude