Julian Assange’s Extradition Verdict Delayed as High Court Considers Appeal
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, will have to wait until next month to find out if he can challenge his extradition to the United States on spying charges. The High Court judges overseeing the case have reserved their decision after a two-day hearing, leaving Assange’s future hanging in the balance. His lawyers argued that sending him to the U.S. would result in a “flagrant denial of justice,” while attorneys for the U.S. claimed that Assange had put innocent lives at risk and had gone beyond the boundaries of journalism.
Assange’s legal team has requested a new appeal, which could be his last chance to avoid extradition. However, a ruling is not expected until March at the earliest. If the judges rule against him, Assange can turn to the European Court of Human Rights to block his extradition. However, there are concerns among his supporters that he may be sent to the U.S. before that happens, as the British government has already signed an extradition order.
The 52-year-old Australian has been indicted on 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over WikiLeaks’ publication of classified U.S. documents almost 15 years ago. American prosecutors allege that Assange encouraged and assisted U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in stealing diplomatic cables and military files, which were later published by WikiLeaks, putting lives at risk.
Lawyer Clair Dobbin, representing the U.S. government, argued that Assange had damaged U.S. security and intelligence services and had “created a grave and imminent risk” by releasing hundreds of thousands of classified documents. She stated that Assange had gone far beyond the role of a journalist by encouraging theft and hacking that would benefit WikiLeaks.
Assange’s supporters maintain that he is a journalist who exposed U.S. military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They argue that the prosecution is politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial in the U.S. On the first day of the hearing, Assange’s lawyers claimed that American authorities were seeking to punish him for WikiLeaks’ exposure of U.S. government criminality on a large scale, including torture and killings.
Dobbin countered these claims, stating that the prosecution was based on law and evidence and had remained consistent despite changes in the U.S. government during the legal battle. She also emphasized that the First Amendment does not provide immunity to journalists who break the law, noting that media outlets that redacted the documents before publishing them were not being prosecuted.
Assange’s lawyers argue that if convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison, although American authorities have suggested that the sentence would likely be shorter. Assange himself was absent from court on both days due to his poor health.
Assange’s legal troubles began in 2010 when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault. In 2012, he sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy and remained there for seven years until he was evicted in April 2019. He was immediately arrested and imprisoned for breaching bail. Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 due to the passage of time.
In 2021, a U.K. district court judge rejected the U.S. extradition request, citing concerns about Assange’s mental health and the harsh conditions he would face in U.S. prisons. However, higher courts overturned this decision after receiving assurances from the U.S. about his treatment. The British government signed an extradition order in June 2022.
Assange’s family and supporters argue that his physical and mental health have deteriorated over the past decade of legal battles. His wife, Stella Assange, stated that he is a political prisoner who must be released and expressed concerns about his safety if he is extradited to the U.S.
Outside the High Court building, supporters held signs that read “Free Julian Assange” and chanted “there is only one decision — no extradition.” The Australian parliament recently called for Assange to be allowed to return to his homeland, with hopes that this would send a strong message to the U.K. and U.S. governments to end the legal fight.
The verdict on Assange’s extradition is eagerly awaited by both his supporters and critics. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of journalism and the boundaries of press freedom. For now, Assange remains in a high-security prison, awaiting the High Court’s decision on his appeal.