WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange abstained from a key hearing in a London court as his lawyer made a final appeal against extradition to the United States to face trial for publishing secret military and diplomatic files. Assange’s lawyer informed the court that her client was unwell and not in a position to attend proceedings.
The US government has repeatedly asked for Assange to be extradited after he was charged in the United States over WikiLeaks’ 2010 publication of files on the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange’s lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said the prosecution could not be justified, as Assange was being prosecuted for engaging in ordinary journalistic practice of obtaining and publishing classified information.
Protesters had gathered outside the court demanding that Assange be freed ahead of court proceedings. Assange’s wife Stella thanking the protesters said, “We have two big days ahead. We don’t know what to expect, but you’re here because the world is watching. They just cannot get away with this. Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth.”
Julian Assange has lost successive rulings in recent years. In case this week’s bid to appeal is successful, Assange will have another chance to argue his case in a London court.
If he loses, Julian Assange will have exhausted all UK appeals and the extradition process will begin.
Stella said that if they lose their appeal, they will approach the European Court of Human Rights to temporarily halt the extradition if needed, warning he would die if sent to the United States.
Over the years, US President Joe Biden has come under intense pressure to drop the 18-count indictment against Julian Assange in a Virginia federal court, which was filed by his predecessor Donald Trump.
Assange’s legal battle began in 2010, when Wikileaks disclosed huge numbers of confidential military files from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan – including footage showing a US helicopter gunning down civilians in Baghdad.
He took refuge in London’s Ecuadorian embassy, before being arrested by the Metropolitan Police in 2019.
