France promptly rejected a request by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to grant him political asylum. "France has received the letter from Mr. Assange. An in-depth review shows that in view of the legal and material elements of Mr. Assange's situation, France cannot grant his request," said the Elysee Palace in a statement Friday, according to Reuters.
"The situation of Mr. Assange does not present any immediate danger. He is also the target of a European arrest mandate," stated President François Hollande's office.
In an open letter to the French president, published by Le Monde early Friday, the WikiLeaks founder said his life was in danger. Assange, who is currently living as a refugee in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, turned 44 Friday.
"By welcoming me, France would carry out a humanitarian and symbolic gesture, sending encouragement to every journalist and whistle-blower," he wrote, according to the BBC.
"For the simple fact of publishing information meriting public interest that whistle-blowers had passed to WikiLeaks, I am personally prosecuted for espionage, conspiracy, theft or compromise of confidential U.S. government information and computer violations, risking life imprisonment or worse," said Assange in the letter, according to Russia Today.
Assange is wanted in Sweden over sex assault allegations, which he has denied. "I have never been formally charged with an offense or a common crime, anywhere in the world, including Sweden and the U.K.," said Assange, according to The Local.
French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira said during the last week of June that she wouldn't be surprised if her government decided to offer "symbolic" asylum to Assange and Edward Snowden, reported CNN.
The WikiLeaks founder's appeal to Hollande came after his governmental whistle-blower website published top secret files that revealed that United State's NSA spied on three French presidents between 2006 and 2012.
