This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

An international coalition of more than 50 actors, musicians and intellectuals have announced their support for Edward Snowden, WikiLeaks and similar whistleblowers.

They have signed a statement in praise of the boldness and bravery of whistleblowers "who risk their lives and careers to stand up for truth and justice."

Sarah Harrison, director of the Courage Foundation, which runs the legal defence fund for Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower, said:

"The courage that Edward Snowden and other whistleblowers and truth-tellers have shown, and continue to show, is truly extraordinary and necessary in helping the public have access to their historical record through media."

It was Harrison and WikiLeaks who ensured Snowden's safe exit from Hong Kong after his revelations and secured his current asylum.

Among the statement's signatories are Susan Sarandon, Viggo Mortensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Noam Chomsky, Terry Gilliam and Roddy Doyle.

Several Britons also signed, including PJ Harvey, Russell Brand, Vivienne Westwood, Hanif Kureishi, Ken Loach, Victoria Brittain, Vaughan Smith and Tracy Worcester.

The statement reads:

"We stand in support of those fearless whistleblowers and publishers who risk their lives and careers to stand up for truth and justice. Thanks to the courage of sources like Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, Jeremy Hammond and Edward Snowden, the public can finally see for themselves the war crimes, corruption, mass surveillance, and abuses of power of the US government and other governments around the world. WikiLeaks is essential for its fearless dedication in defending these sources and publishing their truths. These bold and courageous acts spark accountability, can transform governments, and ultimately make the world a better place."

Viggo Mortensen said: "It is up to all of us as free-thinking citizens to demand truly transparent democracy and high, unbiased moral standards from those who govern us."

And Westwood said: "I didn't ask Edward Snowden to stick his neck out for me. But now that he did I ask myself where would we be without him?"

The release of the statement coincides with the expanded cinema release of Laura Poitras's documentary, CitizenFour, a first-hand account of Snowden's disclosure of the NSA's mass surveillance programme.

Source: Courage Foundation