European Parliamentarians Call for Bradley Manning’s Freedom
Seventeen Members of European Parliament have written a letter calling on U.S. President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to free WikiLeaks whistle-blower Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.
The MEPs laud Manning for exposing “evidence of human rights abuses and apparent war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan” in accordance with international law.
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In addition to the abuse Manning suffered, the MEPs specifically condemn the ‘aiding the enemy' offense with which Manning is charged, a capital offense that “would set a terrible precedent.”
“To consider releasing information about war crimes to the public to be ‘aiding the enemy’ would be a terrible setback for the defense of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law worldwide,” said Marisa Matias of Portugal, explaining why she joined 16 other Members of European Parliament in signing the letter.
