Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks, has made his first public statement since being released from a British prison in June. Speaking at the Council of Europe’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, Assange warned that his imprisonment had set a “dangerous precedent” for journalists worldwide. He argued that his case represented a growing threat to investigative journalism, where the act of uncovering and exposing state secrets is being criminalized.

“I want to be totally clear: I am not free today because the system worked,” Assange said. “I am free today after years of incarceration because I pled guilty to journalism.”

Assange, 53, has been a polarizing figure for over a decade. He gained global attention in the 2010s after WikiLeaks published thousands of classified U.S. government documents. Supporters view him as a champion of transparency and press freedom, deserving of the same protections afforded to journalists under the First Amendment. Critics, however, argue that his actions endangered national security and contributed to Russian interference in the U.S. elections.

In June, Assange struck a deal with U.S. officials, pleading guilty to one felony count of illegally obtaining and disclosing national security information. This agreement led to his release after spending five years in a British prison, where he had been detained while fighting extradition to the United States.

His remarks in Strasbourg have reignited the debate about press freedom, journalism, and the fine line between whistleblowing and criminal activity. As the conversation continues, Assange’s case remains a significant point of contention in discussions about the role of journalists in holding powerful institutions accountable.