Skip to main content
Assange denied permission to attend Vivienne Westwood's funeral
Supporters of Julian Assange, including Yanis Varoufakis (second left) and Vivienne Westwood (centre) begin a march from Australia House to Parliament Square in London, protesting Assange's imprisonment and extradition, in February 2020

WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange has been denied permission to leave prison to attend Dame Vivienne Westwood’s funeral, her family said today.

Dame Vivienne was a strong supporter and friend of Mr Assange, who is being held in Belmarsh prison in London while he continues a lengthy fight to avoid extradition to the US.

The fashion designer’s family said they were “deeply disappointed that we were unable to fulfil Vivienne’s wishes but are unsurprised by the decision which is unjust and in keeping with the inhumane treatment he has received from the UK authorities up to this point.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
[Pic: Andrew Wiard]
Media / 24 January 2026
24 January 2026

As advertising drains away, newsrooms shrink and local papers disappear, MIKE WAYNE argues that the market model for news is broken – and that public-interest alternatives, rooted in democratic accountability, are more necessary than ever

PJ Harvey performing on the Pyramid stage, at the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Picture date: Friday June 28, 2024
Media / 23 December 2025
23 December 2025

On January 2 2014, PJ Harvey used her turn as guest editor of the Today programme to expose the realities of war, arms dealing and media complicity. The fury that followed showed how rare – and how threatening – such honesty is within Britain’s most Establishment broadcaster, says IAN SINCLAIR

round up
Cinema / 19 December 2025
19 December 2025

ANDY HEDGECOCK, MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review The Six Billion Dollar Man, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Goodbye June, and Super Elfkins

FW Pomeroy's Statue of Justice stands atop the Central Criminal Court building, Old Bailey, London
Features / 9 August 2025
9 August 2025

ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the government’s proposals to further limit the right of citizens to trial by jury