02:28Dozens of supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gathered in Sydney on Wednesday to mark the journalist's 53rd birthday - his first since being released from the UK's Belmarsh Prison under a landmark plea deal which saw him return to Australia.
Footage shows supporters singing happy birthday, cheering and serving cake to celebrate. Signs reading 'Happy birthday Julian Assange', 'Hero' and 'Truth produces justice' can also be seen displayed around the demonstration site.
"For the world, he has been a human being that has no fear to stand up and speak truth. Truth to the people, power to the people and he has suffered incredibly for that - which is an incredible injustice and an incredible wronging, But, he's home, he's free and the fight still goes on," one supporter said.
Assange left Belmarsh prison on June 24 after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
Assange pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Espionage Act during a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands. The hearing was reportedly held in the US commonwealth due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.
'A human being that has no fear' - Assange supporters gather in Sydney to celebrate WikiLeaks founder's birthday
Dozens of supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gathered in Sydney on Wednesday to mark the journalist's 53rd birthday - his first since being released from the UK's Belmarsh Prison under a landmark plea deal which saw him return to Australia.
Footage shows supporters singing happy birthday, cheering and serving cake to celebrate. Signs reading 'Happy birthday Julian Assange', 'Hero' and 'Truth produces justice' can also be seen displayed around the demonstration site.
"For the world, he has been a human being that has no fear to stand up and speak truth. Truth to the people, power to the people and he has suffered incredibly for that - which is an incredible injustice and an incredible wronging, But, he's home, he's free and the fight still goes on," one supporter said.
Assange left Belmarsh prison on June 24 after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
Assange pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Espionage Act during a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands. The hearing was reportedly held in the US commonwealth due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.
Dozens of supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gathered in Sydney on Wednesday to mark the journalist's 53rd birthday - his first since being released from the UK's Belmarsh Prison under a landmark plea deal which saw him return to Australia.
Footage shows supporters singing happy birthday, cheering and serving cake to celebrate. Signs reading 'Happy birthday Julian Assange', 'Hero' and 'Truth produces justice' can also be seen displayed around the demonstration site.
"For the world, he has been a human being that has no fear to stand up and speak truth. Truth to the people, power to the people and he has suffered incredibly for that - which is an incredible injustice and an incredible wronging, But, he's home, he's free and the fight still goes on," one supporter said.
Assange left Belmarsh prison on June 24 after reaching a plea deal with the US, boarding a plane at London's Stansted Airport.
Assange pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Espionage Act during a hearing in Saipan - the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands. The hearing was reportedly held in the US commonwealth due to its proximity to Australia and his own opposition to travelling to the United States.
The WikiLeaks founder has been detained in London since 2019, and fought a long-running extradition battle with the US over 18 charges related to the release of classified documents involving the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He was initially granted political asylum by Ecuador in the British capital in 2012 but was dragged from the embassy by UK police seven years later.