20-2-2024 (LONDON) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces what could be his final opportunity to halt his extradition from Britain to the United States as he commences a crucial legal battle on Tuesday (Feb 20). This marks the culmination of over 13 years of legal struggles within the English courts.
US prosecutors are determined to bring Assange, 52, to trial on 18 charges related to WikiLeaks’ high-profile disclosure of extensive confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. They argue that the leaks endangered the lives of agents, emphasizing there is no excuse for his alleged criminal actions. Meanwhile, Assange’s supporters view him as an anti-establishment hero and a journalist persecuted for exposing US wrongdoing and alleged war crimes.
Assange’s legal saga began in 2010, with seven years spent in Ecuador’s embassy in London before his arrest in 2019 for breaching bail conditions. Held in a maximum-security jail in southeast London since then, he received approval for extradition to the US in 2022 after initial concerns about his mental health.
In a two-day hearing at London’s High Court, Assange’s lawyers will attempt to overturn the extradition approval, potentially representing his final chance within the English legal system. Described by his wife, Stella, as a matter of life and death, they argue that Assange’s prosecution is politically motivated and an unprecedented attack on free speech, being the first time a publisher has faced charges under the US Espionage Act.
Support for Assange comes from various quarters, including Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, media organizations that collaborated with WikiLeaks, and Australian politicians, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who recently voted in favor of a motion urging Assange’s return to Australia.
Even Pope Francis granted Assange’s wife an audience last year. If Assange secures permission in this hearing, a full appeal will follow. However, if he loses, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) remains his last resort, with an appeal already pending.
Speaking about her husband’s deteriorating health, Stella Assange stressed that he wouldn’t survive extradition. She stated, “His health is in decline, physically and mentally. His life is at risk every single day he stays in prison – and if he is extradited, he will die.”
Drawing parallels with the fate of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, Assange’s brother, Gabriel Shipton, expressed fears of losing him to the prison system. Shipton said, “That’s what we live in fear of: That Julian will be lost to us, lost to the US prison system or even die in jail in the UK.”
WikiLeaks gained prominence in 2010 by exposing a US military video and later releasing classified files and diplomatic cables, offering critical insights into US appraisals of world leaders.
