Amnesty International marks first year of Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence with new calls for release
Amnesty International has renewed its calls for the release of Chelsea Manning from prison, one year into her 35-year sentence under the Espionage Act for disseminating classified information via WikiLeaks.
Manning was convicted on 30 July 2013 of 20 separate charges, including five for espionage and five for theft, following three years in pre-trail detention. She came out as transgender shortly afterwards.
To mark a year since her conviction, Amnesty International has renewed its calls for Manning to be released, and for the US government to investigate the alleged human rights violations committed by US troops which were revealed by Manning’s leaking of documents.
“It is an absolute outrage that Chelsea Manning is currently languishing behind bars whilst those she helped to expose, who are potentially guilty of human rights violations, enjoy impunity,” said Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.
“The US government must grant Chelsea Manning clemency, order her immediate release, and implement a thorough and impartial investigation into the crimes she uncovered.”
She continued: “The US government appears to have its priorities warped. It is sending a worrying message through its harsh punishment of Chelsea Manning that whistleblowers will not be tolerated.
“On the other hand, its failure to investigate allegations that arose from Chelsea Manning’s disclosures means that those potentially responsible for crimes under international law, including torture and enforced disappearances, may get away scot-free.
“One year after the conviction of Chelsea Manning we are still calling on the US government to grant her clemency in recognition of her motives for acting as she did, and the time she has already served in prison.”
It was announced earlier this month that Manning would receive treatment to aid in her transition while remaining at the all-male military prison at Fort Leavenworth, although Manning’s legal team was reportedly unable to confirm this.
