4 ms·

The Armoured Glass Box Is an Instrument of Torture

79 points by colinprince 7y ago

bArray 7y ago
Yet again, the British courts acting illegally as it suites them. I am pretty sure that Assange's trial already has a written ending. Why, for example, is he even being held in prison? He's innocent until proven guilty, even by the law of the land. Instead he is held in maximum security reserved for the worst of criminals.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- thrwe4234 7y ago
  So much for Anglo-Saxon values of 'freedom', 'justice' and 'democracy'; little has changed from the times of the British empire.
- ArnoVW 7y ago
  Perhaps because he has a history of trying to escape the law?
  - bArray 7y ago
    > Perhaps because he has a history of trying to escape the > law? I don't think that warrants him being treated like a terrorist, even if you believe he has a high chance of fleeing.
Claudus 7y ago
People in governmental authority positions seem to want to make an example of Julian Assange in order to discourage others from following in his steps.
j9461701 7y ago
What is the actual legal pretext for him being in the box?
- TylerE 7y ago
  Well, he does have a history of violating bail and fleeing. Judges tend to not like that.
Pfhreak 7y ago
The existence of this box, the descriptions of his treatment... He's not the first person to undergo this and he won't be the last. Setting aside Assange, is there ever a time when this treatment is not crippling and dehumanizing? I'm trying to imagine a need for something like this, and maybe I'm not imaginative enough, but I can't figure out why such awful conditions were built in the first place.
- lxmorj 7y ago
  It's a way to cement power and the perception of power. Skirting international law like this sends a message that you can do whatever you like. It's not a lie, either. Abu Dhabi is a pretty clear signal that America plays by the rules until we don't.
- bArray 7y ago
  > I'm trying to imagine a need for something like this, and > maybe I'm not imaginative enough, but I can't figure out > why such awful conditions were built in the first place. For somebody who is a high escape, high assassination or generally high risk. Somebody with enough money for example could arrange for an escape attempt at the court itself. Unfortunately it's also used for anybody who acts "against the state", i.e. whistleblowers. Such cases do not occur without consent from high levels of government.
  - frollo 7y ago
    > For somebody who is a high escape, high assassination or generally high risk I don't know if it still in use, but Italy had at least a bunker court for mafia trials which could withstand even missile attacks. In case of high risk targets, I feel it would be better to ensure the safety of every person inside the court, instead of enclosing just one person inside a box which could still be opened, after spilling enough blood. To me, it seems the glass box is used only for the psychological effect and justified with the security concerns.
Proziam 7y ago
I tried to reply to this thread, but the thread was flagged for a while. Not sure what that was about. I generally agree with the author's assessment. It seems as if the goal of his treatment is to mask a suicide or cause one. It just goes to show you that we the people should always be suspicious of those in positions of power, because it may be abused.
- bArray 7y ago
  I had to "vouch" for the article, no idea why it got flagged off of the front page. I read back through the guidelines and I'm pretty sure this is a useful and insightful article for the community [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - Tomte 7y ago
    Probably because people are getting tired of this deluge of Assange stories. From this blog alone we have one every day. And I haven't seen a "new comment" in months now. It has been talked to death. You won't convince me, I won't convince you. It's all well-rehearsed sound bites.
    - bArray 7y ago
      Surely it's for each person to decide whether they want to engage in the stories? This blog is interesting (at least to me) because the guy is actually reporting first-hand from the court that will decide his fate.
      - Tomte 7y ago
        Have I said otherwise? I simply explain why some people engage by flagging. And that's nothing you're to "forbid". Sure, read his blog. I still maintain that there has not been a single interesting comment – on either side – in the discussion threads.
    - jjgreen 7y ago
aszantu 7y ago
It's good they left the EU :( I don'T want to live in a place where anyone can be treated like that.

79 points by colinprince 7y ago

Yet again, the British courts acting illegally as it suites them. I am pretty sure that Assange's trial already has a written ending. Why, for example, is he even being held in prison? He's innocent until proven guilty, even by the law of the land. Instead he is held in maximum security reserved for the worst of criminals.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
thrwe4234 7y ago
So much for Anglo-Saxon values of 'freedom', 'justice' and 'democracy'; little has changed from the times of the British empire.
ArnoVW 7y ago
Perhaps because he has a history of trying to escape the law?
- bArray 7y ago
  > Perhaps because he has a history of trying to escape the > law? I don't think that warrants him being treated like a terrorist, even if you believe he has a high chance of fleeing.

Claudus 7y ago

People in governmental authority positions seem to want to make an example of Julian Assange in order to discourage others from following in his steps.

j9461701 7y ago

What is the actual legal pretext for him being in the box?

TylerE 7y ago
Well, he does have a history of violating bail and fleeing. Judges tend to not like that.

Pfhreak 7y ago

The existence of this box, the descriptions of his treatment... He's not the first person to undergo this and he won't be the last. Setting aside Assange, is there ever a time when this treatment is not crippling and dehumanizing? I'm trying to imagine a need for something like this, and maybe I'm not imaginative enough, but I can't figure out why such awful conditions were built in the first place.

lxmorj 7y ago
It's a way to cement power and the perception of power. Skirting international law like this sends a message that you can do whatever you like. It's not a lie, either. Abu Dhabi is a pretty clear signal that America plays by the rules until we don't.
bArray 7y ago
> I'm trying to imagine a need for something like this, and > maybe I'm not imaginative enough, but I can't figure out > why such awful conditions were built in the first place. For somebody who is a high escape, high assassination or generally high risk. Somebody with enough money for example could arrange for an escape attempt at the court itself. Unfortunately it's also used for anybody who acts "against the state", i.e. whistleblowers. Such cases do not occur without consent from high levels of government.
- frollo 7y ago
  > For somebody who is a high escape, high assassination or generally high risk I don't know if it still in use, but Italy had at least a bunker court for mafia trials which could withstand even missile attacks. In case of high risk targets, I feel it would be better to ensure the safety of every person inside the court, instead of enclosing just one person inside a box which could still be opened, after spilling enough blood. To me, it seems the glass box is used only for the psychological effect and justified with the security concerns.

Proziam 7y ago

I tried to reply to this thread, but the thread was flagged for a while. Not sure what that was about. I generally agree with the author's assessment. It seems as if the goal of his treatment is to mask a suicide or cause one. It just goes to show you that we the people should always be suspicious of those in positions of power, because it may be abused.

bArray 7y ago
I had to "vouch" for the article, no idea why it got flagged off of the front page. I read back through the guidelines and I'm pretty sure this is a useful and insightful article for the community [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- Tomte 7y ago
  Probably because people are getting tired of this deluge of Assange stories. From this blog alone we have one every day. And I haven't seen a "new comment" in months now. It has been talked to death. You won't convince me, I won't convince you. It's all well-rehearsed sound bites.
  - bArray 7y ago
    Surely it's for each person to decide whether they want to engage in the stories? This blog is interesting (at least to me) because the guy is actually reporting first-hand from the court that will decide his fate.
    - Tomte 7y ago
      Have I said otherwise? I simply explain why some people engage by flagging. And that's nothing you're to "forbid". Sure, read his blog. I still maintain that there has not been a single interesting comment – on either side – in the discussion threads.
  - jjgreen 7y ago

aszantu 7y ago

It's good they left the EU :( I don'T want to live in a place where anyone can be treated like that.