Wikileaks
Court approves Julian Assange’s appeal – no extradition to the US for the time being
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street in London, a supporter of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange protests against his extradition to the United States.
© Niklas Halle’n / AFP
In the case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, the High Court in London has made a decision. The court granted the appeal. Now the case goes to the next instance.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is allowed to appeal in the lawsuit over his extradition to the United States. This was announced by the High Court in London on Monday. The legal tug-of-war with the USA should thus continue before the highest British court
Because he published secret material from US military operations in Iraq, the US has been fighting for the Australian’s extradition for years. They want to put Assange on trial over charges of espionage. An appeals court initially lifted the extradition ban on December 10, 2021.
Assange faces up to 175 years in prison if convicted in the United States. He is accused of having stolen and published secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan together with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, thereby endangering the lives of US informants. His supporters, on the other hand, see him as an investigative journalist who brought war crimes to light. The 50-year-old has been held at Belmarsh High Security Prison in London for more than two years.
Earlier this year, a British court barred Assange’s extradition to the United States on grounds of his mental health. However, the USA had doubted the corresponding medical reports, lodged an appeal and was initially successful. An appeals court lifted the extradition ban last December. Assange now wants to have this decision reviewed by the highest British court, the Supreme Court, and has the opportunity to do so after today’s judge’s verdict.
“Last chance” to stop extradition
But even if his appeal had been rejected on Monday, that would not have meant the end of the legal dispute, WikiLeaks boss Kristinn Hrafnsson told the German Press Agency. The decision would then initially lie with British Home Secretary Priti Patel. However, if she agrees to the US extradition request, an appeal can also be made to the court.
“This could be the last chance to stop Julian Assange’s extradition to the US,” Rebecca Vincent, the London representative of the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, wrote on Twitter. “Whatever happens next, Britain also has a legal and moral responsibility.”
Assange’s relatives, especially his fiancée, are worried about his health. So far, his psychological well-being has been the priority, but the situation seems to be affecting him more and more physically.