Julian Assange’s Extradition Appeal Begins Amid Global Rallies for His Release
The extradition appeal of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States started on Tuesday at the British High Court in London. Supporters of Assange held rallies around the world, demanding his release from prison. The two-day hearing before a panel of two judges began on Tuesday and will resume on Wednesday. This appeal could be Assange’s final attempt to block his extradition to the U.S. to face espionage charges for publishing classified U.S. military documents. However, if he wins in court this week, a full appeal hearing could still take place in the future.
Assange’s lead lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, argued that his client is being prosecuted for engaging in ordinary journalistic practices of obtaining and publishing classified information that is true and of public interest. If Assange loses this appeal, his only remaining option would be to apply to the European Court of Human Rights for an emergency injunction. His wife, Stella, expressed concerns about his health and safety, stating that she believes he will die if he is extradited to the U.S.
If extradited, Assange would face trial in Alexandria, Virginia, and could potentially be sentenced to up to 175 years in an American maximum-security prison. Journalists located outside of England and Wales, including those from Fox News Digital, were denied access to observe the hearing remotely.
Assange, who is currently held at London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison, was absent from court on Tuesday due to health reasons. His family has expressed concern over his well-being in the past. Assange sought asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault, which were eventually dropped.
During the hearing, one of Assange’s lawyers, Mark Summers, claimed that there was evidence of a “truly breathtaking plan” to kidnap or murder Assange while he was in the embassy. Summers alleged that former President Trump had requested “detailed options” to kill him. The CIA under the Trump administration was accused of having discussions about plans to assassinate Assange in London and had advanced plans to kidnap and rendition him.
Assange is facing 17 charges under the Espionage Act for allegedly receiving, possessing, and communicating classified information to the public. These charges were brought by the Trump administration’s Justice Department over WikiLeaks’ publication of cables leaked by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. The leaked materials exposed war crimes committed by the U.S. government in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Guantánamo Bay detention camp, as well as instances of CIA torture and rendition.
Supporters of Assange held rallies in various cities worldwide, including London, Berlin, Paris, Sydney, and Washington, D.C. In Washington, activists praised Assange for revealing the truth about U.S. war crimes. Many press freedom groups have criticized Assange’s prosecution, stating that it sets a dangerous precedent intended to criminalize journalism.
In 2022, editors and publishers from major outlets such as The Guardian, The New York Times, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and El País wrote an open letter calling for the U.S. to drop the charges against Assange. The Guardian also published an editorial opposing Assange’s extradition, highlighting the threat it poses to both him and journalism.
Efforts to demand Assange’s freedom have been made by lawmakers in the U.S. and Australia, including a recent vote in the Australian Parliament supporting an end to his prosecution and a resolution introduced in the U.S. House calling for his release.
The outcome of Assange’s extradition appeal will have significant implications for press freedom and the future of journalism. As the hearing continues, the world watches closely to see whether Assange will be extradited to the U.S. or granted his freedom.