In a crucial development in the legal saga of Julian Assange, the High Court of London is set to deliver its verdict on Tuesday regarding whether the WikiLeaks founder can appeal against his extradition from the UK to the US. This decision could mark his final attempt to challenge his extradition through British courts.
Assange, 52, faces extradition to the US where prosecutors seek to try him on criminal charges linked to WikiLeaks’ release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables. US authorities argue that Assange’s actions endangered their operatives and assert that there are no justifications for his alleged criminal conduct. Conversely, supporters of Assange depict him as a champion of journalism, contending that he is being persecuted for uncovering US misdeeds.
The UK initially approved Assange’s extradition in 2022, prompting him to launch efforts to overturn the decision. His initial appeal was denied, leading to a recent two-day hearing where his legal team sought to reverse the judgment. On Tuesday, two senior judges will announce their ruling, which will determine the course of Assange’s legal battle.
If Assange’s appeal is successful, a full hearing will be convened to reconsider his challenge. However, if the ruling goes against him, his last recourse would be to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Assange’s legal ordeal dates back to 2010 when his troubles began, culminating in his seeking asylum in Ecuador’s embassy in London for seven years. He was eventually arrested in 2019 for violating bail conditions. Since then, he has been detained in a maximum-security prison in southeast London, where he even got married.
During the February hearings, Assange’s defense argued that the prosecution was politically motivated, alleging that he was targeted for exposing “state-level crimes.” They claimed that former US President Donald Trump had explored options to harm him.
Contrarily, US lawyers contended that Assange was not being prosecuted for publishing leaked materials but for aiding and conspiring with Chelsea Manning to unlawfully obtain them and disclose names of sources, thereby endangering them.
WikiLeaks gained international attention in 2010 when it released a US military video depicting an Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that resulted in civilian casualties, including Reuters journalists.
Recent reports suggesting a potential plea deal for Assange have left his legal team uncertain about the case’s resolution, underscoring the ongoing complexity of his legal battle.
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