al Jazeera:

Julian Assange US extradition live news: UK High Court allows appeal

By Tamila Varshalomidze

Published On 20 May 202420 May 2024

• The United Kingdom’s High Court decides to permit WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to appeal against a UK court ruling approving his extradition to the United States to face trial on espionage charges.
• The court in March asked the US government to provide assurances that Assange would be given a fair trial and not face the death penalty if extradited to face charges over the release of confidential military and diplomatic files by WikiLeaks in 2010.
• The Australian citizen faces 18 charges in the US, all under the 1917 Espionage Act except one. His supporters maintain the prosecution is an attempt to punish him because he helped expose wrongdoing by US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

• 47s ago

   (12:15 GMT)

  Amnesty hails Assange victory as ‘rare piece of positive news’ for defenders of press freedom

  Simon Crowther, legal adviser at Amnesty International, has said “the High Court’s decision is a rare piece of positive news for Julian Assange and all defenders of press freedom”.

  “The High Court has rightly concluded that – if extradited to the USA, Assange will be at risk of serious abuse, including prolonged solitary confinement, which would violate the prohibition on torture or other ill-treatment,” he said.

  Crowther also said that the ongoing US attempt “to prosecute Assange puts media freedom at risk worldwide”.

  “As the fight continues in the UK courts, we call on the USA to finally put an end to this shameful saga, by dropping all the charges against Assange. This would bring the process in the UK to an immediate halt, and Julian Assange will be freed,” he said.

• 27m ago

   (11:50 GMT)

  Assange wins British court bid to appeal his extradition to US

  Assange’s battle to avoid extradition to the US has received a huge boost when London’s High Court ruled that US assurances over his case were unsatisfactory and he would get a full appeal hearing.

  In a short ruling, two senior judges said the US submissions were not sufficient and said they would allow the appeal to go ahead.
• 32m ago

   (11:45 GMT)

  ‘Publishing is not a crime’: Assange supporters rally outside High Court

  Dozens of Assange supporters have gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, many wearing T-shirts bearing Assange’s face.

  A large sign had Assange’s photo and the words reading: “Publishing is not a crime. War crimes are.”

  Some protesters held a large white banner aimed at President Joe Biden, exhorting: “Let him go Joe.”

  “This man’s life is at stake,” 83-year-old sculptor Jenny West told the AFP news agency. “He represents all other journalists, it’s a pressing humanitarian situation,” she added.

  One protester, Emilia Butlin, 54, told Reuters news agency she wanted to show solidarity: “He, with his work, has offered tremendous service to the public, informing them about what governments are doing in their name.”

  

  Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hold banners and placards as they protest in support of him in central London [Henry Nicholls/AFP]
• 47m ago

   (11:30 GMT)

  UN special rapporteur on torture has urged UK authorities to halt extradition

  Alice Jill Edwards in March called on the UK government to halt the possible extradition of Assange to the US, urging authorities to consider his appeal based on substantial fears that, if extradited, he would be at risk of treatment amounting to torture or other forms of ill-treatment or punishment.

  “Julian Assange suffers from a long standing and recurrent depressive disorder. He is assessed as being at risk of committing suicide,” Edwards said. “If extradited, he could be detained in prolonged isolation while awaiting trial, or as an inmate. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 175 years in prison,” she added.

  “The risk of being placed in prolonged solitary confinement, despite his precarious mental health status, and to receive a potentially disproportionate sentence raises questions as to whether Mr Assange’s extradition to the United States would be compatible with the United Kingdom’s international human rights obligations,” the UN special rapporteur continued, noting that the US government’s assurances of “humane treatment” were not a sufficient guarantee.

  

  Demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside of the Royal Courts of Justice, Britain’s High Court, in central London [File: Daniel Leal/AFP]