Julian Assange has been behind bars in London for more than two years. It has still not been finally decided whether he will be extradited to the USA. A landmark hearing is now due.
For the first time in more than six months, the founder of the platform Wikileaks, Julian Assange, appeared in court at a public hearing in London.
The 50-year-old was switched on via video from the maximum security prison Belmarsh in the south-east of the British capital, where he has been sitting for more than two years. He wore long hair combed back, glasses, and a loose-fitting shirt. The ends of a tie hung loosely from his collar. The focus of the hearing on Wednesday was the scope of the appeal process over the US extradition request, which was rejected in January.
Meanwhile, dozens of supporters of the Australian gathered in front of the courthouse of the London High Court, calling for his immediate release with chants like “Free Julian Assange”.
The US judiciary wants to try Assange in the United States on allegations of espionage. However, a judge in London had rejected the extradition request with regard to his compromised mental health and the expected prison conditions in the USA. The US Attorney’s Office appealed against this. A decision is now to be made about the scope of this appeal procedure, which has already been approved at least in part.
“It is absolutely clear that the US government should drop the allegations. The Biden government can not defend the freedom of the press and at the same time continue this case, “said Assange’s partner Stella Moris of the British news agency PA.
The managing director of the journalists’ organization Reporters Without Borders, Christian Mihr, told the German Press Agency: “In the end, this is also decisive for the credibility of the USA.” They finally announced that they would return to the world stage.
Assange had previously lived in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for years. In 2019, however, the South American country withdrew his protection and left him to the British authorities. In the meantime he has also lost his Ecuadorian citizenship.
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