Julian Assange 'to request leave from Belmarsh prison to attend friend Vivienne ... trends now
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Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will request leave from prison to attend the funeral of his friend Dame Vivienne Westwood, according to the Australian's wife.
Dame Vivienne, known as the Godmother of Punk, died aged 81 on Thursday surrounded by her family in south London, prompting Mr Assange to search for a way to say goodbye despite being behind bars in London's Belmarsh prison as he fights extradition to the US.
His wife Stella Assange told Australia's Nine Media of the funeral: 'Julian's going to put in a request to be able to attend.'
Mr Assange and Dame Vivienne had been friends for more than a decade, with the designer a vocal supporter throughout his time in the Ecuadorian embassy and prison.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gestures from the window of a prison van as he is driven into Southwark Crown Court in London on May 1, 2019. He appeared via video linking today at Westminster Magistrates
Dame Vivienne Westwood harnessed herself into a giant bird cage outside the Old Bailey to protest against extradition of Mr Assange in 2020
She even dressed as a canary and suspended herself inside a giant birdcage outside The Old Bailey in July 2020 to protest his potential extradition.
The designer's death prompted the Wikileaks founder to issue his first quote since being imprisoned in 2019.
In a comment released by Mrs Assange, he said: 'Vivienne was a Dame and a pillar of the anti-establishment. Bold, creative, thoughtful and a good friend. The best of Britain. She will be missed terribly
