(PatriotSpotlight.org) – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will face a major turning point on Monday, May 20th when British judges will decide whether he is to be extradited to the United States.
Two High Court judges in London will rule on whether the U.S. has adequately assured that the 52-year-old will not face capital punishment and will have access to First Amendment rights if put on trial for espionage by the U.S. courts. The landmark decision could prompt Assange’s extradition within as little as 24 hours. He has been embroiled in a decade-long battle to clear his name.
The journalist’s wife, Stella Assange who he married in Belmarsh prison in 2022, said last week that she no longer knew what to expect, and said she was unsure whether he would be freed or extradited. She warns that her husband would be at severe risk of suicide if sent to the U.S., for which she has cited psychiatric records.
Assange’s legal fiasco erupted in April 2010 after WikiLeaks released 100s of thousands of confidential U.S. military documents linked to its military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as a trove of diplomatic cables. A classified video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed 12 people was one of the most shocking revelations. Assange was first arrested back in 2010 in the UK under a Swedish warrant over claims of sexual offences, which have subsequently been dismissed.
Assange faces 18 charges from the U.S. authorities, mostly under the Espionage Act. However, the controversial writer’s supporters claim the prosecution is a major blow to freedom of expression and press freedom and is simply a punishment for his exposure to government corruption. A slew of human rights groups and even the Australian Prime Minister, have urged that the charges be dropped.
If the extradition is approved Assange could pursue an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. However, if judges reject the request of the U.S. authorities, Assange will be permitted to appeal the decision, which could prolong the legal battle until well into 2025. The court could also address the legitimacy of his appeal in Monday’s hearing, which could promote his release if the judgment rules in his favor. The family plans to move to Australia if Assange is released.
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