Wiki Leaks: Julian Assange arrest is "excessive and dehumanising” a statement claims

Six months after his arrest, supporters of Julian Assange claim that he is being detained "under house arrest" in "excessive and dehumanising" conditions.

They released a 611-word statement to mark the six month anniversary of Mr Assange being granted bail while he fights extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual crimes, which he denies. Alongside is also included a video, titled House Arrest, in which his supporters and staff are questioned about the bail conditions and their impact on the work of WikiLeaks.

In the statement, they say: "Today, 16th June 2011, Julian Assange will have spent six months under house arrest. He has not been charged with a crime in any country. The conditions of his detention are excessive and dehumanising."

The statement claims that the allegations made against Mr Assange are "controversial" as the investigation, which had previously been closed was re-opened by a politician and that both alleged victims, who went to the police together after meeting each other, have in the past admitted to multiple consensual sexual acts, over multiple days, with Mr Assange.

It continues: "Both complainants admit consenting to sex and that consent to sex was not removed at any stage. The allegation made is that Mr Assange did not immediately inform the complainants that a condom had split or that he was not wearing a condom."

"The allegations as they are made do not amount to crimes in the UK. If he were to go to Sweden he would be kept in detention indefinitely and incommunicado. If charged, he will be subjected to a trial held in secret.

"He will not be allowed to see all the evidence against him. Outside observers will not be able to scrutinise the merits of the case."

It claims that Mr Assange "voluntarily stayed in Sweden for four weeks to clear his name. During this time he repeatedly tried to arrange a time to be questioned.

"The prosecutor who issued the European Arrest Warrant and the Interpol red notice was asked if he could leave Sweden, and she confirmed that he could.

"Only after Julian Assange had arrived in the UK and moments before WikiLeaks started to publish the US Diplomatic Cables, the Swedish authorities decided to issue a European Arrest Warrant and, unusually, an Interpol Red Notice.

"In the US, the Obama administration declared Julian Assange and WikiLeaks to be 'hi tech terrorists'."

The statement says that Mr Assange has continued to "request a hearing with the Swedish authorities from the UK.

"Despite this, Sweden has refused to cooperate with him and resorted to excessive force by preventing his freedom of movement.

"The Swedish government has refused to state that it will not hand over Mr. Assange to the United States.

"This is why he is fighting this disproportionate and unfair extradition order."

"Whilst fighting this battle, and trying to continue with his important work for freedom of information, he is being forced to remain in unfair and undignified conditions."