[[{“value”:”According to the High Court of London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has the right to appeal his extradition order to the US for espionage charges.
After his attorneys argued that the US government provided “blatantly limited” assurances on how a trial would be conducted, High Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson ruled in his favor.
” Assange, 52, has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website’s publication of a trove of classified U. S. documents almost 15 years ago”, the Associated Press noted.
According to WikiLeaks,” Stella Assange speaking to reporters following today’s UK court decision allowing Julian Assange to file an appeal against US extradition.”
WATCH:
Stella Assange speaking to reporters following today’s UK court decision to allow Julian Assange to file an appeal against US extradition:” A good sign – the US administration should take this as a moment to drop this case …distance itself from this horrible prosecution.” twitter.com/yAI09kVBv0
— WikiLeaks ( @wikileaks ) May 20, 2024
The Guardian reports:
In March, two judges had moved the case forward so Assange could not bring it up for review. He is attempting to avoid being charged with espionage in the US for the publication of thousands of secret and political documents.
Princess Victoria Sharp and Mr. Justice Johnson ruled on that occasion that he would be able to file an appeal against extradition on three grounds, unless the US provided” adequate” assurances.
The assurances that he was requested included that he would be able to rely on the first section of the US constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, that he would not be “prejudiced at trial” according to his nationality, and that the death penalty would not be imposed.
His wife and supporters sat in awe of relief at the high court in London on Monday, as judges ruled that his extradition would not be in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, which he had interpreted as the US second amendment, and that he might face prejudice at his trial or be punished because of his nationality.
According to journalist Taylor Hudak,” The judges grant Mr. Assange the permission to appeal on grounds 4 and 5 ( related to discrimination based on his nationality and the Second Amendment ).”
BREAKING: Based on his nationality and the First Amendment, the judges grant Mr. Assange the right to file an appeal on grounds 4 and 5.
— Taylor Hudak ( @_taylorhudak ) May 20, 2024
Julian Assange of Wikileaks is granted permission to file an appeal against extradition to the United States by the London High Court. pic. twitter.com/bE02iArWpv
— Disclose. tv ( @disclosetv ) May 20, 2024
From the Associated Press:
Assange’s wife, Stella, said the U. S. had tried to put “lipstick on a pig — but the judges did never buy it”. She said the U. S. should “read the situation” and drop the case.
” As a family, we are relieved, but how much can this go on”? she said. ” Julian is suffering a lot as a result of this case,” he said.
After settling in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven years, the American computer expert has spent the past five years in a European high-security prison. Due to health concerns, Assange’s attorney claimed that he was unable to attend court to hear the decision.
American authorities allege that Assange aided and encouraged Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army intelligence officer, to elude WikiLeaks ‘ publication of diplomatic cables and military files.
Assange’s lawyers have argued he was a journalist who exposed U. S. martial wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to them, sending him to the United States would expose him to a politically motivated prosecution and run the risk of a “flagrant denial of justice.”
The U. S. government says Assange’s actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information, amounting to an attempt to solicit, steal and randomly publish classified government documents.”}]] [[{“value”:”
The High Court of London ruled that WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange could appeal his extradition to the United States for espionage.
After his lawyers argued that the United States government had provided “blatantly insufficient” assurances about how a trial would proceed, High Court judges Victoria Sharp Jeremy Johnson ruled to Assange’s benefit.
The Associated Press reported that “Assange has been indicted for 17 espionage counts and one charge of Computer Misuse over his website’s publication a trove classified U.S. government documents almost 15 years back.”
WikiLeaks reported that “Stella Assange spoke to reporters after today’s UK Court decision allowing Julian Assange an appeal against US Extradition,” WikiLeaks said.
WATCH:
Stella Assange speaking to reporters following today’s UK court decision to allow Julian Assange to appeal against US extradition: “A good sign – the US administration should take this as a moment to drop this case…distance itself from this terrible prosecution” #FreeAssangeNOW pic.twitter.com/yAI09kVBv0
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) May 20, 2024
The Guardian reports
Two judges deferred their decision in March about whether Assange could appeal his case again. Assange is trying to avoid prosecution in the US for espionage related to the publication thousands of classified and diplomat documents.
On that occasion, Dame Victoria Sharp & Mr Justice Johnson ruled that he could appeal against extradition based on three grounds unless the US provided “satisfactory assurances”.
The assurances sought were that he could rely on the US Constitution’s first amendment, which protects the freedom of speech. He also requested that he not be “prejudiced” at trial because of his nationality.
The high court in London heard gasps of relief as his wife and supporters listened to the judges grant him leave to contest his extradition. They did so on the grounds that his removal would not be compatible with his right to freedom to expression under the European Convention on Human Rights, which is regarded as the functional equivalent of the US First Amendment, and he could be prejudiced or punished because of his nationality.
Taylor Hudak, a journalist, stated that “the judges grant Mr. Assange permission to appeal on grounds four and five (related to his nationality and First Amendment discrimination)”.
BREAKING NEWS: The judges have granted Mr. Assange permission to appeal based on grounds 4 and 5. (Related to discrimination on the basis of his nationality and First Amendment).
— Taylor Hudak (@_taylorhudak) May 20, 2024
JUST IN: The London High Court has granted Julian Assange, Wikileaks’ Julian Assange, permission to appeal against his extradition to the United States. pic.twitter.com/bE02iArWpv
Disclose.tv May 20, 2024
The Associated Press:
Assange’s spouse, Stella Assange, said that the U.S. tried to “put lipstick on a pig – but the judges didn’t buy it.” She suggested the U.S. “read the situation” before dropping the case.
She said, “As a whole family, we are relieved. But how long can it continue?” “This case is shameful, and it’s taking a huge toll on Julian.”
The Australian computer expert spent the last five in a British prison of high security after seven years of taking refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Assange’s lawyer stated that he was unable to attend court for the hearing of the verdict due to health issues.
Assange is accused by American prosecutors of encouraging and helping Chelsea Manning, a U.S. Army intelligence analyst, to steal diplomatic cables as well as military files that WikiLeaks has published.
Assange’s attorneys have argued that he is a journalist who exposed U.S. government wrongdoings in Iraq and Afghanistan. They said that sending him to the U.S. would expose him politically motivated prosecutions and risk “a flagrant denial justice.”
The U.S. Government says Assange went beyond the role of a journalist in gathering information. His actions amounted to an attempt to solicit classified government documents, steal them, and then publish them indiscriminately.
“}]]
