WikiLeaks founder: Hearing on Assange's extradition to USA has begun

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What may be the final hearing on the extradition of Julian Assange to the USA has begun in London. The WikiLeaks founder hopes to be able to appeal again against his threatened rendition. A previously rejected application for this was to be reconsidered at the two-day hearing in the High Court.

Assange did not personally attend the meeting. According to his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, he felt unwell. Fitzgerald said his client was being prosecuted for “ordinary journalistic practice.”

Supporters demonstrated outside the London court for his release. “Freedom for Julian Assange” was written on posters, as the British news agency PA reported. “There is only one decision: no deportation!” were chants. Hundreds of gold ribbons reading “Release Julian Assange now!” were also hanging on the fence in front of the High Court and on surrounding gates and trees.

At the two-day hearing, Assange wants to defend himself against extradition to the USA. It is the last possible appeal. In the event of a rejection, Assange would only have to go to the European Court of Human Rights. In June, the United Kingdom Supreme Court in London rejected his application to appeal against the British government’s extradition decision.

The US wants to bring the 52-year-old WikiLeaks founder to trial for publishing secret documents and violating anti-espionage laws. He faces life imprisonment and the sentence is 175 years.

Assange and his supporters criticize his prosecution as politically motivated because Assange had published politically explosive data: Together with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, he had published secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The USA accuses him of endangering the lives of US informants. His supporters, however, see him as an investigative journalist who has brought war crimes to light.

What may be the final hearing on the extradition of Julian Assange to the USA has begun in London. The WikiLeaks founder hopes to be able to appeal again against his threatened rendition. A previously rejected application for this was to be reconsidered at the two-day hearing in the High Court.

Assange did not personally attend the meeting. According to his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, he felt unwell. Fitzgerald said his client was being prosecuted for “ordinary journalistic practice.”

SOURCE