“Julian has not been convicted of any crime, yet he is treated as if he is a terrorist, the only thing he is guilty of is publishing the truth,” the family said.
Assange and Westwood’s friendship began at Assange’s 40th birthday party when the two were first introduced to each other.
Since the meeting, Westwood and Assange remained close friends. The pair kept in touch, even when Assange sought asylum at the Ecuadorian embassy from 2012 to 2019, where Westwood would regularly visit him.
Even after his arrest by UK officials in 2019, Westwood continued to support her friend and advocate for his innocence.