Fourteen years ago, Swedish human rights activist Anna Ardin accused WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of sexual assault. Despite her claims, Ardin is glad that Assange is now free. The allegations against Assange, which he has always denied, sparked a global controversy and led to his seeking asylum in a London embassy for seven years. In 2019, the Swedish authorities ended their investigation, but Assange spent the next five years in a British prison fighting extradition to the US. Ardin, who is proud of Assange’s work for WikiLeaks, believes that he should never have been imprisoned. She describes him as a complicated man, not a hero or a monster. In her book, Ardin details her encounter with Assange, alleging that he humiliated her during a sexual encounter. Another woman, identified as SW, also accused Assange of sexual misconduct. Despite the controversy surrounding the allegations, Ardin maintains that she seeks only the truth and believes that justice should prevail, even for influential figures like Assange.
