Julian Assange will not be extradited to the United States at least for now, as the British justice system has requested new guarantees from the US regarding his treatment before agreeing to extradition. The American authorities have been given three weeks to provide these assurances, and if they do not, Assange will have the opportunity to appeal his extradition.
The Wikileaks founder is wanted by the US for leaking over 700,000 classified documents, including a video showing civilians being killed in Iraq. He has been in custody since 2019 after spending seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. There have been calls for US President Joe Biden to drop the charges against Assange, as his supporters raise concerns about his health and the risk of suicide if he is extradited.
During recent court hearings, Assange’s lawyers argued that the case against him is politically motivated and that he is being prosecuted for normal journalistic practices. The US government, however, contends that Assange knowingly published names of individuals who served as sources of information for the United States, setting him apart from traditional media outlets.
While the UK initially ruled in favor of Assange’s extradition in January 2021, concerns about his mental health led to a later reversal of the decision. The US has sought to address these concerns by offering assurances that Assange will not be held in maximum security and will have access to necessary medical and psychological care. They have also opened the possibility of him serving his sentence in Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denounced the US prosecution of Assange and called for an end to the persecution. Supporters continue to rally around Assange, expressing their solidarity during his court hearings. As the legal battle continues, it remains uncertain what will happen next for Julian Assange as he fights against extradition and for his right to freedom of expression.
