Judges Rule US Must Ensure Julian Assange’s Freedom of Speech Rights and No Death Penalty Before Extradition
In a recent decision, the UK High Court has mandated that Julian Assange’s extradition to the US hinges on assurances from American authorities regarding his freedom of speech protections and the absence of a death penalty threat. This ruling potentially allows the Wikileaks founder to launch a fresh appeal against extradition without these guarantees.
The US accuses Assange of jeopardizing lives through the publication of classified materials, while his defense argues that the case represents retaliatory action by the state. The court has postponed its final extradition verdict by three weeks, granting the US government time to comply with these conditions.
Following the court’s decision, Assange’s wife has called on President Joe Biden to drop what she terms a “shameful case.” The ongoing legal saga dates back to Wikileaks’ release of confidential US documents in 2010 and 2011. Supporters argue the leaks exposed US wrongdoing, yet Assange faced criticism for failing to redact intelligence operatives’ names, potentially endangering them.
Despite seeking refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London to evade extradition, Assange was arrested in 2019 and has since been held in UK prisons. In June 2022, then-Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition to the US to stand trial for 18 charges, a decision currently under legal challenge by Assange’s legal team.