Julian Assange Granted Right to Appeal Extradition to US
May 20, 2024 at 8:02 am
In a significant ruling, a London court has granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange the right to appeal his extradition to the United States. Assange faces espionage charges in the US related to the publication of confidential military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks.
Background
Assange was first arrested in Britain in 2010 on a Swedish warrant over sex crime allegations. Those charges were later dropped, but Assange remained in custody while facing extradition to the US on the espionage charges.
The British High Court in London ruled that Assange could challenge the extradition order made by a lower court in April 2022. The court ruled that Assange's mental health was a key factor in the decision to allow the appeal.
Assange's supporters hailed the ruling as a victory for freedom of speech and press freedom. They argued that Assange's extradition to the US would have set a dangerous precedent for the prosecution of journalists and whistleblowers.
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