Senaka Weeraratna 

The case of Julian Assange who was imprisoned for 18 years and raised global protests, leading to his release only a few months ago is a classic example of the double standard employed by human beings.

French Buddhist Monk Mathieu Riccardo used the expression ‘ Cognitive dissonance ’. You split your mind,’ to describe this morally indefensible stand of humans.

We are worried about the long term imprisonment of Julian Assange (for 18 years) and its effects on his health, but least worried about the fate of the  equivalents of millions of Julian Assange of the Animal World that humans have imprisoned  in jail houses called Zoos, with hardly a protest or call for their release. Totally innocent of any wrong doing they spend a lifetime in small enclosures with hardly any room to move, having been plucked from their natural surroundings.

We do not see any injustice in our actions concerning lifetime imprisonment of animals in Zoos but in contrast do everything possible to achieve freedom for humans like Julian Assange.

Though we are separated by differences on ground of different species we are all united by a common sentience. We all suffer.

Our actions and double standards are ethically incoherent. As lawyers our legal training and more importantly the extension of justice to weaker sentient beings is brought upon to stand on its head.

The way we treat animals not only by commission but also by omission ( failing to release them from man made prisons) is an innate test of our true commitment to Justice, the real purpose of our legal education and our own moral progress.