WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is reported to be leading the vote for the US Human Rights Awards despite being pursued by the US government for publishing classified documents that allegedly showed human rights abuses.
Assange, an Australian journalist and publisher popularly known for WikiLeaks, is likely to scoop the US Human Rights Award following his continued publication of documents exposing secret wrongdoing and providing a safe haven for whistleblowers.
Assange, who is also facing espionage charges by the US, has already been the recipient of the Amnesty International New Media Award in 2009, Martha Gellhorn prize in 2010, Sydney Peace Foundation Gold Medal and Walkey Award for journalism in 2011 and recently the Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award in the Arts.
Apart from his problems with the US authorities he is also wanted by UK authorities for extradition to Sweden where he is sought for sexual misconduct allegations many of which he says are fabricated.
Among his most controversial releases include a video showing a US helicopter firing at Reuters journalists in Iraq while in Africa WikiLeaks has released files showing how former Kenyan president Moi corruptly acquired millions of dollars from the East African country.
Currently Assange is being protected by the government of Ecuador from extradition to the US and therefore is unlikely to be able to receive the award in person if he wins.
Apart from being a journalist and a human rights campaigner, Assange is viewed by others as a hacker and computer programming expert, a tool he is accused of misusing while acquiring some of his controversial releases.
