London court issues ruling on Assange's case
Julian Assange has been imprisoned in London's high-security Belmarsh Prison for five years without a formal conviction, yet the US government has been pushing for his extradition during this time. If the London Court of Appeal rules in favor of the US today, Assange could be extradited within 24 hours.
The London Court of Appeal is set to determine the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US today. The case will be heard at 11:30 AM (CEST) and is expected to last approximately two to three hours. Assange's supporters have planned a demonstration outside the courthouse in central London.
The US government seeks to charge Assange with espionage offenses. Assange's defense claims that he faces up to 175 years in prison if convicted. The US accuses Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning of illegally obtaining and publishing classified documents on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, placing American informants at risk. Assange's backers, on the other hand, believe the prosecution is retaliation for the leaks, which revealed alleged war crimes.
If the court grants the extradition request, the legal battle may persist for the time being. If the appeal is denied, Assange's supporters state he will be extradited promptly, possibly signaling the end of legal options in the UK. However, his legal team promises to petition the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if that happens. Still, it's undecided if the Court could interrupt an extradition.
The core of the case is whether Assange can claim freedom of expression as a non-resident in the US and whether he faces the death penalty. The judges previously postponed a decision on the appeal at a two-day hearing in late March, requesting reassurances from the US. The question now is whether these assurances are sufficient or if a further show cause hearing is necessary.
Assange's wife is anxious about his life after extradition to the US, fearing severe prison conditions and his fragile mental state. The previous judge dismissed the extradition order due to concerns about Assange's risk of suicide. However, that decision was later overturned. The British government now consents to his extradition. According to Stella Assange, it's possible that the court may rule directly on the substance of the appeal on Monday.
Meanwhile, supporters may be relying on a political resolution. Australia's government is engaging with the US and UK to free its citizen. A recent Australian parliamentary resolution asked for the prosecution against Assange to end. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented that the matter has gone on for too long. Additionally, US President Joe Biden has expressed that he would consider Australia's request.
Assange spent almost five years in Belmarsh maximum security prison in London before his arrest in April 2019. Beforehand, he spent several years living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid legal authorities. The initial criminal allegations were aimed at Assange for alleged sexual misconduct in Sweden. However, these accusations were later dropped for lack of evidence. He has been held without a conviction since. Plenty of human rights organizations, journalists' associations, artists, and politicians are requesting his immediate release.
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The London Court of Appeal's ruling on Julian Assange's case could potentially restrict his freedom of expression, as an extradition to the USA might limit his ability to advocate for freedom of information through Wikileaks. Despite being imprisoned in London for five years without a formal conviction, Assange's supporters are planning a demonstration in London, expressing their concerns about his potential extradition and the repercussions it may have on his right to freedom of expression.
Source: www.ntv.de
