WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange may appeal against his threatened extradition to the US. The London High Court decided this on Monday. Assange, who has been held in a high-security prison in the British capital for years, was not present at the Supreme Court hearing. However, his wife Stella Assange and his father John Shipton were in the courtroom.
The US government wants to try the Australian resident on charges of espionage. According to information, he faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years. Washington accuses him of stealing and publishing classified material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, endangering the lives of US informants. Assange’s supporters, on the other hand, see the prosecution as a retaliation by Washington because the publications exposed alleged war crimes.
The Australian government is calling for his release
In addition to an appeal process, Assange’s supporters will likely pin their hopes primarily on a political solution. The Australian government is now campaigning for the release of its citizen. The Australian parliament recently passed a resolution calling on the US and Britain to stop prosecuting Assange. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that the case has been dragging on for too long.
US President Joe Biden recently gave Assange supporters some hope. When asked whether Australia’s demand to end criminal prosecutions would be explored, he said: “We are considering it.” The Albanians called the statement “encouraging.”
Imprisoned for years without conviction
Assange has been in London’s Belmarsh prison for almost five years. Before his arrest in April 2019, he had evaded law enforcement authorities in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for years. They initially targeted him over rape allegations in Sweden. However, these charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. He is now in prison without a conviction. Numerous human rights organizations, journalists’ associations, artists and politicians are calling for Assange’s immediate release.
Source: Krone
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