NEW DELHI: Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been granted permission by a London court to appeal against his extradition to the United States on espionage charges. The decision, made by High Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson, means that Assange’s legal battle is likely to continue for some time.
Assange’s lawyers argued that the US had not provided adequate assurances that he would be protected under the First Amendment if extradited.They claimed that the US prosecutors had failed to guarantee that Assange, an Australian citizen who claims protections as a journalist for publishing classified US information, could rely on the press protections provided by the US Constitution.
“The real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court,” Fitzgerald said. “It is submitted that no adequate assurance has been made.”
The outcome of the hearing will depend on the weight given by the judges to the assurances provided by US officials that Assange’s rights will be protected if he goes on trial. In March, two judges rejected most of Assange’s arguments but stated that he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the US guaranteed that he would not face the death penalty and would have the same free speech protections as a US citizen.
Assange has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse related to the publication of classified US documents by his website nearly 15 years ago. The US government argues that Assange’s actions went beyond those of a journalist gathering information and amounted to an attempt to solicit, steal, and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.
Assange has spent the last five years in a British prison and did not attend the hearing for health reasons. His family and supporters claim that his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, including seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 to 2019.
President Joe Biden recently stated that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and allow Assange to return to his home country. While no further details were provided, Assange’s wife, Stella, called it “a good sign,” and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging.
Assange’s lawyers argued that the US had not provided adequate assurances that he would be protected under the First Amendment if extradited.They claimed that the US prosecutors had failed to guarantee that Assange, an Australian citizen who claims protections as a journalist for publishing classified US information, could rely on the press protections provided by the US Constitution.
“The real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court,” Fitzgerald said. “It is submitted that no adequate assurance has been made.”
The outcome of the hearing will depend on the weight given by the judges to the assurances provided by US officials that Assange’s rights will be protected if he goes on trial. In March, two judges rejected most of Assange’s arguments but stated that he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the US guaranteed that he would not face the death penalty and would have the same free speech protections as a US citizen.
Assange has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse related to the publication of classified US documents by his website nearly 15 years ago. The US government argues that Assange’s actions went beyond those of a journalist gathering information and amounted to an attempt to solicit, steal, and indiscriminately publish classified government documents.
Assange has spent the last five years in a British prison and did not attend the hearing for health reasons. His family and supporters claim that his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles, including seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 to 2019.
President Joe Biden recently stated that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and allow Assange to return to his home country. While no further details were provided, Assange’s wife, Stella, called it “a good sign,” and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouraging.
