British court judges Julian Assange’s appeal request
This could be his last chance to avoid extradition to the US in British courts. The United Kingdom approved the extradition in 2022. Since then, Assange has tried to reverse this decision.
US prosecutors want to prosecute Assange, 52, for releasing classified US military records and diplomatic cables through WikiLeaks.
The Americans argue that these leaks put the lives of their agents at risk and that there was no motive for this crime. Assange’s supporters consider him a journalistic hero who is being prosecuted for exposing US wrongdoing.
Attempts to avoid extradition
Assange’s first attempt to appeal the transfer was refused. Last month, his lawyers tried to reverse the decision.
If Assange wins, there will be a new hearing to consider his challenge again. If he loses, his last option would be an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
His wife, Stella Assange, wrote on the X network (formerly Twitter) that the time has come: “Decision tomorrow”, she said.
Assange’s legal disputes
During the hearings in February, Assange’s team argued that the process is motivated by politics and said he is being targeted for exposing “state-level crimes.”
They claimed that former US President Donald Trump had requested “detailed options” on how to kill him.
U.S. prosecutors say he is not being prosecuted for publishing leaked materials, but for aiding and conspiring with former U.S. military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to obtain them illegally, disclosing the names of sources and “putting these individuals at serious risk of harm.”
