No is his short answer. He's given his first face-to-face interview since being released on bail in the UK. You can hear the whole interview with the 91Èȱ¬'s John Humphrys's here, and this is the news story off the back of it. In the interview Mr. Assange outlines why he will not voluntarily go to Sweden to speak with the authorities. We're going to discuss if his reasoning is sound.
It's also relevant to read details of the allegations as detailed in police documents leaked to The Guardian newspaper.
Tell us if you believe Julian Assange should travel to Sweden voluntarily and the reasons behind your answer.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
18:58
113631290
Jocelyn from Brighton in Southern England wrote on our Facebook site
UK police travel abroad to interview people - why can't Swedish police travel to UK to interview him or do it online??
Comment sent via Facebook
18:57
113631290
Kwame from London got in touch via Facebook
Assange is engaged in high minded political acts....if his impending trial for rape turns political that's a cross he has to bear. He should face trial, period....he isn't bigger than anybody.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:56
113631290
Sally in San franciso emails
This conversation is without details. You should have on an expert international extradition lawyer to explain the charges and the law that applies to this exact situation.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:47
113631290
Alison in Carmel, Indiana emails
I object to charges of rape being used by the patriarchal hierarchies who are determined to bring down WikiLeaks. It is an insult to women everywhere who suffer sexual violence, whose victimisation is not pursued with the same energy as in this particular case.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:45
113631290
Tunde got in touch with us via Facebook He is a man who is leaking covered-up truth. If he is sure that the charge is faulty, he should face it and prove his innocence.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:41
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Deborah in Florida emails
If Sweden assures that they will not extradite Julian Assange to the U.S., then he should go back to Sweden to face these charges.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:40
113631290
Isaac in Barbados emails
The case has been politicised and therefore he cannot be guaranteed a fair trial.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:39
113631290
Nheakheh from Indianapolis got in touch with us via Facebook
There is absolutely no reason for him to return to Stockholm. If he is wanted for questioning, he can be questioned in London. He has not been charged, so he doesn't have to go back.
Comment sent via SMS
18:35
109242042
In a democratic system, justice means giving someone a court hearing where he believes he will get a fair trial. Julian Assange has been prejudged by some prosecutors in Sweden; he will not be allowed to leave if he sets foot there. (Anyii George, Kampala).
Comment sent via SMS
18:30
115949727
The issue with Mr. Assange is extremely complex, and as simple. Whereas I support free speech, I do not support exposure of security secrets. His not voluntarily travelling instead of being extradited beg to question his innocence, morals and principles. It is ironical that he does not want to dance to the tune of those who not only whistle blew on him, but allege he is answerable for the very serious charges. Shame on him. Are there two sets of rules applicable here, one for him and the other for those he exposes? Well, he is now exposed. Get him on the next plane to stockholm, voluntarily or not, asap. His beloved whistle is already blown on him. My name is Anthony Muya in Nairobi. Kenya.
Comment sent via SMS
18:25
115377721
You guys are acting as if it is impossible for those women to be used for purposes of shutting Mr Assange down.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Saroj in Nepal posted on our Facebook page
No, he must not go there. As all these agendas came to light after the release of wikileaks. All the allegations seems to be politically motivated. This is only a way to keep him behind bars and distract him.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:19
113631290
Senyo in Ghana got in touch on Facebook
The behaviour of the Swedish prosecutors saysit all because they are so bent on arresting him. Assange will not have a fair trial
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:17
113631290
Allison emailed
He is a man, not a movement - let's not confuse the two. He's not the only person behind wikileaks, but he is the public face. Because you like him, doesn't mean that you can't support him facing up to the allegations against him.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:16
113631290
James emailed
What he did was in the name of transparency for the better of man kind so that no one is above the law. Now he turns around and thinks he is above the law.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:15
115949645
@91Èȱ¬_WHYS Find it very odd that he is totally uninterested in clearing his name & should b said that he can't be charged til he's questioned
Comment sent via SMS
18:13
110247175
I’m curious how many other people in sweden are facing similar charges and how their cases are being handled? Tim in Florida.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:10
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Barbrah on Facebook
Why get scared now? It's easy to publish classified information when you sit in the comfort of your office or home. Be a man, not a cheap villain or hero.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:10
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Andrew in ghana on Facebook
It might be bad timing,but it shouldn't take away the fact that a crime might have been committed and justice should be served.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:10
113631290
Friday in Aba, nigeria on Facebook
He should go to Sweden to prove his innocence.He is not a hero of any sort
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Ankur in Bahrain on facebook
He should not go to under any circumstances, as there is no guarantee of a fair trial. Come to think of it, how many offenders are extradited for sexual crimes?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:09
113631290
Jin on facebook
Corrupt politicians and governments would love to stop this guy in anyway possible. Wake up people!
Should Julian Assange go to Sweden?
| Tuesday, 12 Dec. 2010 | 18:00 - 19:00 GMT
No is his short answer. He's given his first face-to-face interview since being released on bail in the UK. You can hear the whole interview with the 91Èȱ¬'s John Humphrys's here, and this is the news story off the back of it.
In the interview Mr. Assange outlines why he will not voluntarily go to Sweden to speak with the authorities. We're going to discuss if his reasoning is sound.
It's also relevant to read details of the allegations as detailed in police documents leaked to The Guardian newspaper.
Tell us if you believe Julian Assange should travel to Sweden voluntarily and the reasons behind your answer.
Your comments
Comment sent via Facebook
Jocelyn from Brighton in Southern England wrote on our Facebook site UK police travel abroad to interview people - why can't Swedish police travel to UK to interview him or do it online??
Comment sent via Facebook
Kwame from London got in touch via Facebook Assange is engaged in high minded political acts....if his impending trial for rape turns political that's a cross he has to bear. He should face trial, period....he isn't bigger than anybody.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sally in San franciso emails This conversation is without details. You should have on an expert international extradition lawyer to explain the charges and the law that applies to this exact situation.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Alison in Carmel, Indiana emails I object to charges of rape being used by the patriarchal hierarchies who are determined to bring down WikiLeaks. It is an insult to women everywhere who suffer sexual violence, whose victimisation is not pursued with the same energy as in this particular case.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tunde got in touch with us via Facebook He is a man who is leaking covered-up truth. If he is sure that the charge is faulty, he should face it and prove his innocence.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Deborah in Florida emails If Sweden assures that they will not extradite Julian Assange to the U.S., then he should go back to Sweden to face these charges.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Isaac in Barbados emails The case has been politicised and therefore he cannot be guaranteed a fair trial.
Comment sent via Facebook
Nheakheh from Indianapolis got in touch with us via Facebook There is absolutely no reason for him to return to Stockholm. If he is wanted for questioning, he can be questioned in London. He has not been charged, so he doesn't have to go back.
Comment sent via SMS
In a democratic system, justice means giving someone a court hearing where he believes he will get a fair trial. Julian Assange has been prejudged by some prosecutors in Sweden; he will not be allowed to leave if he sets foot there. (Anyii George, Kampala).
Comment sent via SMS
The issue with Mr. Assange is extremely complex, and as simple. Whereas I support free speech, I do not support exposure of security secrets. His not voluntarily travelling instead of being extradited beg to question his innocence, morals and principles. It is ironical that he does not want to dance to the tune of those who not only whistle blew on him, but allege he is answerable for the very serious charges. Shame on him. Are there two sets of rules applicable here, one for him and the other for those he exposes? Well, he is now exposed. Get him on the next plane to stockholm, voluntarily or not, asap. His beloved whistle is already blown on him. My name is Anthony Muya in Nairobi. Kenya.
Comment sent via SMS
You guys are acting as if it is impossible for those women to be used for purposes of shutting Mr Assange down.
Comment sent via Facebook
Saroj in Nepal posted on our Facebook page No, he must not go there. As all these agendas came to light after the release of wikileaks. All the allegations seems to be politically motivated. This is only a way to keep him behind bars and distract him.
Comment sent via Facebook
Senyo in Ghana got in touch on Facebook The behaviour of the Swedish prosecutors saysit all because they are so bent on arresting him. Assange will not have a fair trial
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Allison emailed He is a man, not a movement - let's not confuse the two. He's not the only person behind wikileaks, but he is the public face. Because you like him, doesn't mean that you can't support him facing up to the allegations against him.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
James emailed What he did was in the name of transparency for the better of man kind so that no one is above the law. Now he turns around and thinks he is above the law.
Comment sent via Twitter
@91Èȱ¬_WHYS Find it very odd that he is totally uninterested in clearing his name & should b said that he can't be charged til he's questioned
Comment sent via SMS
I’m curious how many other people in sweden are facing similar charges and how their cases are being handled? Tim in Florida.
Comment sent via Facebook
Barbrah on Facebook Why get scared now? It's easy to publish classified information when you sit in the comfort of your office or home. Be a man, not a cheap villain or hero.
Comment sent via Facebook
Andrew in ghana on Facebook It might be bad timing,but it shouldn't take away the fact that a crime might have been committed and justice should be served.
Comment sent via Facebook
Friday in Aba, nigeria on Facebook He should go to Sweden to prove his innocence.He is not a hero of any sort
Comment sent via Facebook
Ankur in Bahrain on facebook He should not go to under any circumstances, as there is no guarantee of a fair trial. Come to think of it, how many offenders are extradited for sexual crimes?
Comment sent via Facebook
Jin on facebook Corrupt politicians and governments would love to stop this guy in anyway possible. Wake up people!