Assange resists US extradition in final UK court showdown

The legal team representing Julian Assange will commence their last legal attempt in the U.K. to prevent the extradition of the WikiLeaks creator to the U.S. for allegations of espionage

Julian Assange’s legal team is commencing their final legal endeavor in the U.K. on Tuesday to prevent the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder to the U.S. to face charges related to espionage. 

Over the span of more than 10 years, the 52-year-old has been contesting extradition, spending seven years in self-imposed exile at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and the subsequent five years in a high-security prison. 

Assange’s legal representatives will petition two High Court judges for a new appeal hearing, the ultimate legal recourse available to him in Britain. In the event of an unfavorable ruling, Assange can seek intervention from the European Court of Human Rights to impede his extradition, although concerns exist that he might be swiftly transported to the U.S. before such measures can be taken. 

The verdict from Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson may be delivered at the conclusion of the two-day hearing on Wednesday, but it is more probable that they will take several weeks to deliberate on their decision. 

“This hearing signifies the initiation of the final phase of the extradition process, as any dismissed grounds by these judges cannot be further contested in the U.K. – placing Assange perilously close to extradition,” remarked the press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. 

Supporters of Assange intend to protest outside the Gothic-style court building on both days and proceed with a march to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street office following the hearing. 

An Australian national, Assange faces indictment on 17 counts of espionage and one count of computer misuse for the dissemination of classified U.S. documents on his website. Allegations by U.S. prosecutors suggest that he collaborated with U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain diplomatic cables and military records that were subsequently published by WikiLeaks, endangering lives. 

Advocates of Assange view him as a journalist who exposed misconduct within the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, deserving of protection under the First Amendment. They argue that the prosecution is politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial in the U.S. 

His spouse, Stella Assange, a lawyer he married while incarcerated in 2022, has expressed concerns about his deteriorating health after years of confinement. 

“His mental and physical health are declining. His life is in jeopardy every day he spends in prison, and should he be extradited, he will face a fatal outcome,” she informed journalists recently. 

Assange’s legal predicaments commenced in 2010 when he was detained in London at the behest of Sweden, which sought to interrogate him regarding allegations of sexual assault and rape made by two women. In 2012, Assange skipped bail and sought refuge within the Ecuadorian Embassy, shielding himself from U.K. and Swedish authorities, albeit confined within the limited space of the diplomatic mission. 

The relationship between Assange and his hosts deteriorated over time, leading to his expulsion from the embassy in April 2019. Subsequently, British authorities promptly apprehended him for breaching bail in 2012. Throughout his extradition battle, he has been detained at Belmarsh Prison in London. In November 2019, Sweden discontinued the investigations into sex crimes due to significant time elapsed. 

Assange’s legal team asserts that if convicted, he could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 175 years, although U.S. authorities have indicated that the actual sentence would likely be shorter. 

In 2021, a U.K. district court judge dismissed the U.S. extradition plea on the grounds that Assange was at risk of self-harm if subjected to severe U.S. prison conditions. Subsequent higher court rulings overturned this decision following assurances from the U.S. regarding his treatment, leading to the British government endorsing an extradition order in June 2022. 

Meanwhile, the Australian parliament recently advocated for Assange’s repatriation to his homeland. 

“Regardless of differing viewpoints, this prolonged situation cannot persist indefinitely,” stated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

Source: AP