phil: let's take a closer look with rebecca vincent, director of international campaigns at reporters without borders. welcome to dw. this is an odd sort of victory. julian assange what are the next redhead even in mental -- better mental health. rebecca: absolutely, and while we are relieved he will not be extradited, which is good news for mr. assange and his family, the rest of the decision we heard was quite concerning -- the substantive points found overwhelming in the prosecution's favor. she rejected key aspects of the defense, including points that we from the believe with reporters without borders, such that the case is politically motivated and that it centers on journalism. we were disappointed because that means the door has been left open for possible, similar prosecutions of other publishers, journalists, and sources. phil: what is it about this case that concerns you, because we must all over the law, even journalists. becca: the question with journalists is always if something is in the public interest's defense. had he been sent to the u.s. to face trial, he would hav

let's take a closer look at this with rebecca vincent who's director of international campaign is the reporters without borders. welcome to day w this is an odd sort of victory jewel of assad would have been extradited if he'd been in better mental health absolutely and so while we are relieved as reporters without borders that he will not be extradited which is good news for mr assad and his family the rest of the decision that we heard today was quite concerning all of the substantive points really the judge found overwhelmingly in the prosecution's favor she rejected key aspects of the defense including points that we firmly believe that reporters without borders such as the fact that this case is politically motivated and that it centers on journalism so we were deeply disappointed with that substance because that means that the door is that left open for possible future similar prosecutions of other publishers journalists and sources and so what is it about about this case it's so concerned here because we must all of a the law even journalists. so the question with journalism is

let's take a closer look at this with rebecca vincent who's director of international campaigns are reporters without borders. welcome to w. this is an odd sort of victory jewel of a soldier want to have been extradited if he'd been in better mental health. absolutely and so while we are relieved as reporters without borders that he will not be extradited which is good news for mr assad and his family the rest of the decision that we heard today was quite concerning all of the substantive points really the judge found overwhelmingly in the prosecution's favor she rejected key aspects of the defense including points that we firmly believe that reporters without borders such as the fact that this case is politically motivated and that it centers on journalism so we were deeply disappointed with that substance because that means that the door is that left open for possible future similar prosecutions of other publishers journalists and sources and so what is it about about this case it's so concerned here because we must all of a the law even journalists. so the question with journalism is alway

let's take a closer look at this with rebecca vincent who's director of international campaigns the reporters without borders. welcome to day w. this is an odd sort of victory children are so much want to have been extradited if he'd been in better mental health. absolutely and so while we are relieved as reporters without borders that he will not be extradited which is good news for mr assad and his family the rest of the decision that we heard today was quite concerning all of the substantive points really the judge found overwhelmingly in the prosecution's favor she rejected key aspects of the defense including points that we firmly believe that reporters without borders such as the fact that this case is politically motivated and that it centers on journalism so we were deeply disappointed with that substance because that means that the door is that left open for possible future similar prosecutions of other publishers journalists and sources and so what is it about about this case that so concerned you because we must all be the law even journalists. so the question with journalism is al

concern for jonas i'm going forward on the future of journalism as well i you know i spoke to rebecca vincent from reporters without borders and she says that journalists need to be protected so we read the very much and share the court's assessment of his serious mental health risk but we're concerned that the rest of the decision leaves the door open for possible other prosecutions on similar grounds because until that point until she came to that point of the decision it seemed very much that the case would have been in favor of the prosecution so without the mental health issues at play somebody else in that same situation could have indeed been extradited to the u.s. to face charges there so this pointed out broader systemic issues that need to be addressed the not the espionage act must be reformed it locks the public interest of funds if any publisher any journalist any source finds himself subject to similar proceedings they cannot adequately defend themselves. so as you heard press freedom of the kids are not happy about the courts of you all and the charges against assad's we spoke

ok thank you for that neve barkha there in london joining us also from london is rebecca vincent she is the director of international campaigns for reporters that without borders thank you for your time miss vincent it's interesting isn't it that the judge projected the arguments that the charges were purely politically motivated and instead made this ruling based on the songes mental health. yes so we were relieved that the decision was made that he will not be extradited and we share the court's assessment of his serious mental health risks we have long highlighted those as. 'd reasons that his immediate release was more urgently needed and we have called his his possible extradition to the us a possible matter of life or death so in that regard we are relieved but indeed the rest of the decision was quite concerning because on substantive grounds the judge made it clear that actually she accepted the prosecution's case largely across the board she did reject that this just this case was about journalism that it was about free speech or that it could be politically motivated those

door back into that family hard say for them it's a pretty pretty disappointing blow to day and rebecca vincent from reporters without borders says she too is very disappointed as many other journalists are this very judge on monday outlined mr sanchez serious health risks and mental health stress these are issues that will be exacerbated by a period of prolonged detention so his fees are grounds but his actual dition which we agree that they are there also grounds for his immediate release from prison she stated that he had incentive to have stunned and that is for these some bail that he would be unlikely to present himself for justice she also stated that his mental health is being managed in the marshes and that the prison has a cozy 1000 situation under control but that does not seem to be the case we've had alarming reports of the situation in the prison not have him nearly continuously in his cell for several weeks now. and the evidence we've heard in september about his state of mental policies are all issues that are made worse by detention so of course he should be released also the m

on the fundamental tenets of the freedom of press now all not very much to i'm now joined by rebecca vincent who is from the reporters without borders of close interestingly the charge she said that this was not politically motivated and her ground succumb to this decision was based on mental health so what really does this mean for jonas going forward so we're relieved very much i'm sure the court's assessment of his serious mental health rests but we're concerned that the rest of the decision leaves the door open for possible other prosecutions on similar grounds because until that point until she came to that point of the decision it seemed very much that the case would have been in favor of the prosecution so without the mental health issues at play somebody else in that same situation could have indeed been extradited to the u.s. to face charges that are so this pointed out broader systemic issues that need to be addressed the not the espionage act must be reformed it locks the public in just offense if any publisher any journalist any source finds themselves subject to similar proceedi

to others that if you leak or if you publish this is what will happen to you and on that note rebecca vincent thank you so much. joining us not for profits and from reporters without borders so it is wrapping up here outside western it's not a straight sporty has been a very dramatic day indeed as soon as that. came out today we saw it. being told to leave the area but also campaign as an activist as well in fact we witnessed ourselves many people even being arrested being told to go. off and leave and that really is just testament to how much and how much dedication activism campaign is in support this conflict you in the song just because they would all get so interested in the scientists in the top here inside the criminal justice system in the united kingdom but actually in the docs is the fundamental principles of the freedom of press the rights of the public to access information and of closed this case today really does in caps say this idea that the u.k. justice system the united states justice system is trying to intimidate journalism worldwide. ok thank you shadi that was. reporting