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- author, Dominic Casciani
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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can file a new appeal against his extradition to the United States, the High Court has ruled.
He was granted permission to appeal an order to send him to the United States to stand trial on charges of leaking military secrets.
The decision means Mr. Assange can challenge U.S. guarantees about how future trials will be conducted and whether his right to free speech will be violated.
The 52-year-old’s lawyers hugged each other in court after the court’s latest verdict.
They argue that the case against him related to the release of top secret documents about alleged U.S. war crimes nearly 15 years ago is politically motivated.
The US claims that WikiLeaks files revealing information about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars put lives at risk.
In a brief ruling Monday morning, two senior judges granted him leave to appeal an earlier order allowing his extradition to the United States. They ruled that he would have to face a full appeal in the UK.
Mr. Assange has resisted extradition from Britain for more than a decade after classified US documents were published on the WikiLeaks website in 2010 and 2011.
Mr Assange, currently in Belmarsh Prison, will need months to prepare his appeal, which will hinge on whether US courts will protect his right to free speech as an Australian citizen. Become.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the courtroom before the verdict, with Assange’s supporters cheering as news of the verdict was announced.
That means he will remain in the UK for the time being.
Had the court ruled in the US’ favor, Mr Assange would have exhausted all legal avenues in the UK.
“turning point”
Speaking outside the Royal Courts of Justice after the verdict, Mr Assange welcomed the verdict, calling it a “turning point”.
She called on the United States to “abandon this shameful attack on journalists, news organizations, and the public that has been going on for 14 years.”
The U.S. Department of Justice described the breach as “one of the largest breaches of classified information in U.S. history.”
Leaked files suggested that US troops killed civilians in unreported incidents during the Afghanistan war.
U.S. authorities claim Assange risked lives by not redacting the names of agents in the documents. They also claim he has not been prosecuted for any disclosures they say expose war crimes.
Mr. Assange’s lawyers argued the case was politically motivated “state retaliation.”
“He literally exposed war crimes,” Mr Assange told BBC Radio 4’s Today program on Monday.
“This case is that country’s revenge on openness and accountability.”
At the March hearing, the U.S. government was given additional time to ensure that: Assange cannot receive the death penalty in the United States and will likely not receive it for two reasons.
- Assange could rely on the First Amendment, which protects free speech.
- His Australian nationality is not a disadvantage to him.
Last month, the justices confirmed that the United States had provided guarantees to the court.
Mr. Assange and his legal team have accepted assurances that he will not face the death penalty if he is charged with other crimes.
Earlier on Monday, James Lewis KC, representing the U.S. government, said in a written submission to the court that Mr. Assange is “entitled to all rights to a due process trial,” including First Amendment defenses. He said there was “no question” that the country had a – If surrendered.
