John Pilger actually puts "rape investigation" in inverted commas. This is misogynist fuckwittery of the first order.
Assange is FREE TO LEAVE THE CUPBOARD HE'S HIDING IN TO ESCAPE A RAPE CHARGE WHENEVER HE LIKES. This is literally the EXACT opposite meaning of detained.
Let's go over this again since Assange fans are largely misogynistic rape-apologist gullible fools.
1. He has been voluntarily hiding in a cupboard for seven years.
2. He's been doing this because he was accused of rape
3. In the U.K. and Sweden we consider rape a serious crime
4. Hiding in a wardrobe does not exempt him from answering to the crimes of which he is accused
5. He skipped bail losing his followers £60,000 in surety
6. Bail skipping is a criminal offence; he is wanted in the
U.K. for that
7. If he ever leaves the wardrobe he's hiding in he will be arrested and charged for bail skipping
8. Sweden may reopen the rape investigation until 2020
9. Now the rape charges are droppped it will be easier, not harder, to extradite Assange to the US
10. The US has made no formal extradition request yet, but given Assange's role in collaborating with the kremlin to sabotage the 2016 US presidential election, I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to.