Amnesty International has renewed its call for the immediate release of Wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning exactly one year after her conviction.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison last year after being convicted of 20 separate charges relating to the dissemination of classified information via Wikileaks.

Before her conviction for violations of the Espionage Act, Manning spent 3 years in pre-trial detention. She maintains that a desire to inform the public and to foster a meaningful debate about US military engagements lay at the heart of her offence.

“It is an absolute outrage that Chelsea Manning is currently languishing behind bars whilst those she helped to expose, who are potentially guilty of human rights violations, enjoy impunity,” said Colm O’Gorman, Director of Amnesty International Ireland.

“The US government must grant Chelsea Manning clemency, order her immediate release, and implement a thorough and impartial investigation into the crimes she uncovered.”

Amnesty also calls on the US government to stop using the “archaic” Espionage Act to prosecute whistleblowers like Manning.

“The US government appears to have its priorities warped. It is sending a worrying message through its harsh punishment of Chelsea Manning that whistleblowers will not be tolerated,” said O’Gorman.

“On the other hand, its failure to investigate allegations that arose from Chelsea Manning’s disclosures means that those potentially responsible for crimes under international law, including torture and enforced disappearances, may get away scot-free,” he added.