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LONDON (AP) — The US government is scheduled to ask the UK’s Supreme Court on Wednesday to overturn the decision of a WikiLeaks-founded judge. Julian Assange should not be sent to the United States to face espionage charges.
In January, a lower court judge denied America’s extradition request. Assange About espionage charges related to WikiLeaks’ release of classified military documents ten years ago.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser refused extradition on health grounds and said: Assange He was likely to kill himself if held in harsh US prison conditions. But he rejected defense arguments Assange faces a politically motivated American prosecution that would override its freedom of expression protection, and he He said the US judicial system would give he a fair trial.
The lawyers of the US authorities were given permission to appeal. At an earlier hearing, they questioned the psychiatric evidence in the case and argued that: Assange does not reach the threshold of being “so sick” he He can’t help himself from harming himself.
Several dozen pro-Assange protesters gathered before London’s Royal Court of Justice before the hearing, which was scheduled to last two days.
AssangeThe suspect, held in London’s maximum security Belmarsh Prison, was expected to attend via video link, but he He was not present when the trial began. Her lawyer Edward Fitzgerald, Assange “She feels she can’t join the cause.”
Assange‘s partner, Stella Moris, said she was “very worried” out of court. Julianhealth. I saw he Saturday. hevery thin.”
“It is completely unthinkable for the UK courts to accept this,” Moris said. “I hope the courts will end this nightmare. Julian may soon return home and these wise minds will prevail. ”
The two judges on the appeal, including Britain’s most senior judge, Lord Chief Justice Ian Burnett, are not expected to make a decision for several weeks.
However, the Supreme Court’s decision will not end the epic legal saga, as the losing party can appeal to the UK Supreme Court.
US prosecutors filed a criminal complaint Assange 17 espionage charges and one computer misuse charge, after WikiLeaks released thousands of leaked military and diplomatic documents. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Assange illegally helped US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning steal secret diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks later released. Assange’s lawyers argue that he is acting as a journalist and is entitled to First Amendment freedom of speech protection because he has published documents exposing the wrongdoings of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange, 50, has been in prison since he was arrested in April 2019 for failing to pay his bail during a separate legal battle. Prior to that, she spent seven years hiding in Ecuador’s embassy in London and fled in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Sweden dropped its sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because it was too late, but Assange remained in jail. The extradition impeachment judge in January ruled that he must remain in detention pending any US appeals, holding that the Australian citizen “has the incentive to flee” if released.
WikiLeaks supporters testify to witness testimony during extradition hearing Assange Spying while at the embassy by a Spanish security firm at the behest of the CIA – and even conversations about kidnapping or killing he – Undermining US claims he will be treated fairly.
Journalistic organizations and human rights groups urged President Joe Biden to drop the prosecution initiated by his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said the charges were politically motivated and should be dropped.
“Nearly 20 years later, an indictment in which almost no one is held responsible for alleged U.S. war crimes during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, let alone a trial, where a publisher who exposes such crimes is potentially liable. He is facing life imprisonment.”
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