How Jemima Khan became Jem of the arrestocracy

Among the many colourful and forceful personalities applauding WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's release — bonded by a belief in freedom of speech, or a sort of knee-jerk anti-Americanism, depending on who you believe — one name stands out. Not Michael Moore, Ken Loach, Matthew Mellon, John Pilger or the Marchioness of Worcester but Jemima Khan. The heiress who once graced gossip columns in barely there frocks and glossy blonde highlights has been front and centre in the Assange camp, as beautiful as ever but sporting a new look: bare-faced, brunette and soberly black-suited.

And she hasn't just turned out for Assange. Where once we saw her at parties and premieres, in recent weeks we've only heard from Jemima when she's been espousing a cause, whether it be the HOPING Foundation for Palestinians or the case of the imprisoned Iranian woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

Cue glee among the commentariat. What does Hugh Grant's ex-girlfriend know of geopolitics, or care about freedom of information? We titter at the socialite among socialists, the dilettante among militants.

Which is perhaps proof of our folly, not hers. The evidence suggests Khan's support of Assange is not a rich girl's whim but the latest move in a long-standing and increasingly tactical process of political engagement. "Calling me a socialite'," she posted on Twitter recently, "is such a lazy way for journalists to undermine me and the Assange defence."

Jemima may have inherited an automatic place in the society pages and an estimated £10 million fortune from her parents, Sir James and Lady Annabel Goldsmith. But if her engagement with international affairs did not pre-date her marriage at 21 to the cricketer turned politician Imran Khan, it certainly outstripped it. A useful comparison might be with Bianca Jagger. Now acknowledged as an eminent campaigner for social and human rights, her serious work was often obscured by reference to her past involvement with Mick Jagger, Andy Warhol and the Studio 54 milieu.

"It comes as no surprise to see Jemima Khan, who has taken a courageous stance in support of Julian Assange and other important issues in the past, depicted as a socialite', in an attempt to belittle her," Jagger herself says. "I speak from personal experience when I say, unfortunately, gender bias is still rife in today's media. Can you give me an example of a man called a socialite'? How often are male campaigners belittled because of their celebrity status, or referred to in the context of their ex-wives? Jemima is a thoughtful and serious person, who is not afraid to stand for the principles she upholds. I applaud her courage and I hope it inspires more prominent women to stand up for their convictions."

Some who didn't previously know Khan but now find themselves allied to her in the peculiar fellowship of the Assange "arrestocracy" have found themselves impressed. "I was with Jemima at Westminster magistrates' court this week, supporting Julian Assange's bid for bail. I wasn't sure what to expect," says Peter Tatchell, the gay and human rights campaigner. "But she came across as intelligent, compassionate and very warm-hearted. It was the first time we'd met. After half an hour chatting it felt like we were long-time friends. We discussed a lot of issues."

"She comes from quite a serious political family, is well-educated and actually rather intelligent," adds novelist and playwright Hanif Kureishi. "And unlike most of us she puts her money where her mouth is. Or her father's money. Though why in particular she has engaged herself in this cause I don't know." Fashion designer Bella Freud, who runs the HOPING Foundation which Khan supports, believes her friend is motivated by a very British respect for honesty, accountability and transparency in government.
Still, Khan's support for Assange is something of an anomaly. She has previously concentrated on charities that supported women and children affected by poverty, disaster or religious intolerance.

Not everyone is convinced that she is on the side of good or wisdom with Assange. "It's fashionable to be libertarian, verging on anarchy," says former home secretary David Blunkett dismissively, "but what we wouldn't wish for ourselves we shouldn't wish for others."

The journalist and author Douglas Murray is more forthright. "Assange is like a Batman villain," he says. "His only purpose is to bring down America, which he's shown already he can't do. And his supporters are such a laughable bunch. Jemima, like Bianca, has found herself in need of a cause. I would have thought the least-good cause was a man giving intelligence information to foreign agencies."