Bad news for Julian Assange: British justice has approved the possibility of authorizing his extradition to the United States, where he would be tried for espionage.
A decision by the Westminster Magistrates Court in London opens the door to Julian Assange’s extradition to the United States.
Up to 175 years in prison
The founder of WikiLeaks faces up to 175 years in prison if he is found guilty by American justice of the acts of espionage with which he is accused.
Australian citizen, Assange will not be able to count on an intervention of the authorities of his country to hope to get out of it. Simon Birmingham, Australia’s finance minister, has already announced that the government will not intervene on his behalf, as he has ” confidence in the independence and integrity of the UK judicial system “.
Yet another twist in this case cannot be ruled out, however, since his lawyers still have the opportunity to appeal to the High Court in an attempt to have the court decision overturned.
If there is no appeal, or if it is rejected, then the case will be handed over to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel, who will have the final say on the whistleblower’s extradition . If Patel orders Assange’s extradition, it must take place within 28 days.
Whistleblower accused of spying
Julian Assange is currently being held in Belmarsh high security prison. He was arrested by British police three years ago, in April 2019, at the Ecuadorian embassy, following the suspension of the political asylum he had enjoyed since 2013.
As a reminder, he is accused by the United States of having disseminated hundreds of thousands of classified and confidential documents on the country’s military and diplomatic activities, including some relating to the interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defenders of Assange believe that political stakes have taken precedence over justice. Rebecca Vincent of Reporters Without Borders urges the British government to intervene to ” protect journalism and freedom of the press “. She adds that the UK has no obligation to extradite Julian Assange to the US.
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Source : The Guardian
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