Julian Assange Wins Right to Appeal Extradition to US
British High Court Ruling Marks Significant Development in Case
London, May 20, 2024 - In a major victory for Julian Assange, the British High Court has ruled that he can appeal against his extradition to the United States. The ruling came on Monday, after a two-day hearing in London.
Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing organization WikiLeaks, has been fighting extradition to the US for almost a decade. He is accused of conspiring to hack into US government computer systems and publishing classified information.
In December 2021, a British court ruled that Assange could be extradited to the US. However, the court also said that he should not be extradited as long as he was at risk of suicide in a US prison.
Assange's lawyers appealed that decision to the High Court. They argued that the extradition proceedings were unfair and that Assange's extradition would be a violation of his human rights.
The High Court agreed to hear Assange's appeal. On Monday, the court ruled that Assange could appeal the extradition decision on two grounds:
- That the extradition proceedings were unfair because the US government did not disclose all of the evidence against him.
- That Assange's extradition would be a violation of his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and his right to freedom of expression.
The High Court's ruling is a significant development in the case. It means that Assange will have the opportunity to challenge his extradition in a higher court.
Assange's lawyers welcomed the ruling. They said that it was "a victory for justice and for Julian Assange." They also said that they were confident that they would win the appeal.
The US government has not yet commented on the ruling.
Komentar