The US continues to fight for the extradition of Julian Assange. The Wikileaks founder has been in custody in London for more than two years. His supporters hope for a turnaround in the process.
The possible extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the USA will continue to preoccupy the British judiciary today.
On the second day of the appeal, which is due to begin at 10:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. CEST) at the High Court in London, Assange’s representatives want to explain why they still consider an extradition of the native Australian to be inadmissible. Assange has been held in a maximum security prison in London for more than two years.
Extradition request from the USA
The United States are challenging the decision made by a British court in January: a judge in London rejected the extradition request in January with regard to Assange’s compromised mental health and the expected prison conditions in the United States. The US judiciary wants to try the 50-year-old Australian over allegations of espionage. He faces up to 175 years in prison in the United States.
Assange is accused of stealing and publishing secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with whistleblower Chelsea Manning. He put US informants in danger. His supporters see him as an investigative journalist who brought war crimes to light. Human rights organizations are demanding his immediate release.
According to the US, the UK court drew incorrect conclusions about Assange’s health and suicide risk in its ruling in January. The US attorney questioned medical reports on Wednesday, saying: “Mr. Assange had every reason to exaggerate his symptoms.” In addition, the possible detention conditions in the USA played a role in the British decision. This is to be contested, however, as the United States has meanwhile promised not to use any “special methods” and, if necessary, to agree to the transfer of Assange to a prison in his Australian homeland.
Assange’s supporters hope for a U-turn in the process following new revelations. A few weeks ago, investigative journalists, citing unnamed US sources, reported that the US foreign intelligence service CIA had forged plans to attack Assange while he was still in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. “The question is, can Britain extradite someone to a country that wanted to kill them?” Asked Assange’s fiancée Stella Moris in a briefing earlier this week.
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