Edited sentence: In February 2020, more than 130 prominent German politicians, journalists and artists, including former foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel, issued an appeal calling for Assange's release from prison, citing Melzer's assessment of Assange's health.The author of the appeal, investigative journalist Günter Wallraff, stated that the appeal aimed to defend whistleblowers and freedom of the press, while Sigmar Gabriel stated that rule of law was being set aside for political reasons