WikiLeaks’ editor-in-chief, Kristinn Hrafnsson, lambasted the British legal process regarding the potential extradition of Julian Assange to the United States as “corrupt” and “rigged” in anticipation of a pivotal hearing slated for next week.
The High Court in London has pressed the US government for additional “assurances” concerning Assange’s treatment should he be transferred to face charges linked to WikiLeaks’ disclosure of classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010.
Scheduled for Monday, the impending hearing may yield a decision on granting Assange a fresh appeal either on the same day or in subsequent proceedings.
Washington has persistently sought the extradition of the 52-year-old Australian, accusing him of disseminating hundreds of thousands of confidential documents pertaining to US-led conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. If convicted in the United States, Assange could confront a sentence of up to 175 years behind bars.
Hrafnsson didn’t mince words, asserting, “It is abundantly clear of course that the process in the court in the United Kingdom is corrupt. The case is rigged against Julian.” He emphasized his opinion, typically reserved for judiciaries in non-Western nations, reflecting on the perceived bias in Assange’s legal ordeal.
Assange’s legal battles have been fraught with setbacks, with supporters framing the struggle as a fight for press freedom. Earlier this year, UK judges sought assurances from the US regarding Assange’s rights, particularly considering his non-citizen status and the potential imposition of the death penalty.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, expressed skepticism regarding a favorable outcome, citing concerns over the judicial process. “I don’t expect a rational outcome from the courts, I’m afraid to say,” she remarked.
Assange has been detained in a high-security London prison since 2019, following a seven-year refuge in Ecuador’s embassy in London to evade extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which were subsequently dropped.
Despite the US indicting Assange multiple times between 2018 and 2020, pressure persists on President Joe Biden to abandon the case, which was initiated under his predecessor, Donald Trump. The prosecution under the 1917 Espionage Act has drawn condemnation from major media outlets, press freedom advocates, and the Australian parliament, marking an unprecedented legal battleground over the publication of classified information.
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