Former political prisoner defends Manning
Sarah Shourd, who spent more than a year in solitary confinement in Iran, calls for Bradley Manning’s release.
Bradley Manning, the American soldier accused of the biggest leak of classified information in US history, is facing trial on Monday.
The 25-year-old soldier is charged with providing more than 700,000 documents to WikiLeaks, an anti-secrecy website.
He has admitted leaking intelligence documents, but denies the most serious charge: that he knowingly helped the enemy and put US lives at risk.
Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered outside Fort Meade Army base in Maryland to call for Manning’s release.
Among them was a woman who spent more than a year in solitary confinement in an Iranian jail, accused of spying and crossing the border illegally.
This is Sarah Shourd’s story in her own words.