The WikiLeaks founder has bought more time as judge grants him limited leave to appeal being sent to the United States to face spying charges.
They Want Julian Assange to Die in Prison for Embarrassing the CIA
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been granted a temporary reprieve by the High Court in London to appeal his extradition as U.S. authorities must give assurances that he will not face the death penalty.
On Tuesday, Mr. Assange found that he faces a further wait to discover whether his final bid to appeal over his extradition can go ahead.
In a judgment on Tuesday, Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr. Justice Johnson dismissed most of Mr. Assange’s legal arguments, but said that unless assurances are given by the United States he would be able to bring an appeal on three grounds.
Reacting to the news on Tuesday, WikiLeaks posted on social media platform X that Mr. Assange may still be extradited.
“Julian Assange may still be extradited to the US in three weeks if U.S Government provides ‘assurances,’ previously deemed by Amnesty as ‘inherently unreliable’ – including that he will not be prejudiced at trial by reason of his nationality and not receive the death penalty,” WikiLeaks wrote.
BREAKING: Julian Assange may still be extradited to the US in three weeks if US Gov provides "assurances" – previously deemed by Amnesty as "inherently unreliable" – including that he will not be prejudiced at trial by reason of his nationality and not receive the death penalty… pic.twitter.com/H90vu00oV8
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 26, 2024
Mr. Assange’s family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, including seven years in self-exile in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the last five years in the high-security prison Belmarsh on the outskirts of London.
At the start of Mr. Assange’s bid last month, Mark Summers, KC argued the United States’ prosecution would be retribution for his political opinions, meaning it would be unlawful to extradite him under UK law.
The development could be his last legal roll of the dice in Britain. His wife and supporters say the Australian national faces 175 years in prison if he is extradited.
American authorities are pursuing offences that relate to Mr. Assange’s alleged role in “one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States.”
By Owen Evans
