January 2022:Stella Moris joins supporters of Julian Assange outside Britain’s Royal Courts of Justice,flanked by Icelandic WikiLeaks journalist Kristinn Hrafnsson (left).Credit:Latika Bourke
During Britain’s COVID lockdowns,the couple didn’t see each other for several months but were able to talk. Assange wasn’t able to hug Gabriel - now four and bearing a striking resemblance to his father according to Moris - and Max,three,for over a year.
“When he could,it was this huge thing,” she says. Moris explains that her partner is “fascinated by knowledge and by exploring knowledge and ideas,and one of the things he loves about being with the kids is how they learn”.
“He’s very affectionate with the kids,” says Moris.
She says that “when you start experiencing restrictions on your life…the small things become everything”.
“You’re thankful for being able to hold his hand – something like this becomes enormous,” says Moris.
They’re now limited to one or two weekly visits.
“You adapt,” says Moris. “But when you look at it objectively,it’s just completely outrageous. It’s horrific – he’s alone in his cell for over 20 hours a day.” She says Assange cannot properly receive mail.
In October Assange,who has Asperger’s syndrome,suffered a mini-stroke. Independent doctors have warned it could be a precursor for something much more devastating.
“For every new health problem,he’s receiving more medication which also carries its own risks,” says Moris.
“I’m really worried that[Julian] is deteriorating to such a degree that the damage will be irreversible.”
The UK’s High Court late last yearoverturned a January 2021 ruling that the Australian was at risk of taking his own life and could not be sent to the United States,adding that assurances by the US that Assange would not be held in solitary confinement and could serve his sentence in Australia if convicted had been guaranteed.
In a February 18 briefing with journalists,Nils Melzer,the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,said that Assange had not committed any serious crime and there was no legal basis for his incarceration. But he was “not very optimistic” that he’d be freed through British courts.
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Assange’s plight has captured the attention of figures around the world from Pamela Anderson to Deputy Prime MinisterBarnaby Joyce, who in December through theHeraldandThe Agecalled for Assange to be tried in the UK or brought home. In a recent poll conducted by this masthead,71 per cent of people supported calls for Assange,who has won dozens of journalism prizes including a Walkley award,to be released to Australia.
A transient who grew up in the bush,Moris says that Assange loves hiking and misses nature.
“I want the kids to see Australia but I want them to have their father showing them Australia. They’re Australian.”
She is in the process of sorting out their Australian citizenship for the country,which they have a huge map of on a wall at home. Max also has a much-treasured plastic cup with a koala on it.
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“One of (the boys’) favourite films on Netflix is calledBack to the Outback,” says Moris. “They have to get to know Australia.”
It may not be realistic,but making plans beyond the confines of Belmarsh prison is a way of coping,says Moris.
“It’s fine to be in the moment,” she says. “But you also have to think beyond the moment and to remind ourselves and each other this is temporary and that he will be free someday,and to imagine what that might be like.”
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