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JULIAN ASSANGE: GOVERNMENT APPROVES EXTRADITION OF WIKILEAKS FOUNDER TO THE US


ASSANGE HAS BEEN HELD IN BELMARSH PRISON SINCE HE WAS DRAGGED OUT OF THE
ECUADORIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON IN 2019. HIS LEGAL TEAM SAID THIS IS "THE BEGINNING
OF A NEW BATTLE".

By Amar Mehta, News reporter @Amarjournalist_

Friday 17 June 2022 14:26, UK


The Home Secretary has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United
States but why is he wanted there?


The government has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the US, where
he faces espionage charges.

The Home Office confirmed Home Secretary Priti Patel had signed the extradition
order for the WikiLeaks founder.

Assange is wanted in the US over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose
national defence information after WikiLeaks published hundreds of thousands of
leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

He has always denied any wrongdoing.

Assange has 14-days to appeal the decision and his legal team said they will be
appealing.

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"Today is not the end of the fight. It is only the beginning of a new legal
battle. We will appeal through the legal system," WikiLeaks said in a statement.

"This is a dark day for press freedom and for British democracy.


MORE ON JULIAN ASSANGE

 * Julian Assange's extradition to the US moves a step closer after court order

 * WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange marries at Belmarsh Prison

 * Julian Assange: High Court reverses decision not to extradite WikiLeaks
   founder to the US


RELATED TOPICS:

 * Julian Assange

"Anyone in this country who cares about freedom of expression should be deeply
ashamed that the home secretary has approved the extradition of Julian Assange
to the United States, the country that plotted his assassination".

Assange has been held in Belmarsh high-security prison since 2019 when he was
dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had taken refuge.

Originally a judge ruled that Assange should not be deported, saying his mental
health problems would make him a suicide risk if convicted.

However, this decision was overturned on appeal.

In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: "On 17 June, following
consideration by both the Magistrates Court and High Court, the extradition of
Mr Julian Assange to the US was ordered.

"In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust
or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange. Nor have they found that
extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to
a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be
treated appropriately, including in relation to his health."

Amnesty International said the decision to extradite Assange "sends a chilling
message to journalists".

Read more:
Assange put through 'hell' at embassy, says former diplomat
Fugitive or hero? Timeline of Julian Assange's legal battle

'Julian is a political prisoner'

In March, Assange married his partner, Stella Moris, after they were given
permission to wed last year.

She was joined by the couple's sons Gabriel, four, and Max, two, and Assange's
father and brother, Richard and Gabriel Shipton.

Image: Stella Moris after marrying Julian Assange at Belmarsh Prison

Mrs Assange said: "The home secretary has approved sending Julian to the country
that planned to murder him. Julian has exposed US government criminality.

"The home secretary is condoning not only the criminality committed by the US
government against Julian, but also those US government crimes exposed by
WikiLeaks.

"Julian is a political prisoner. We will use every avenue to appeal this
decision. I will dedicate every waking hour to fight for justice until he is
free."

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