Julian Assange can appeal extradition to the US, UK court rules

Julian Assange has been granted the right to appeal his extradition to the United States, following a recent ruling by the UK High Court. The court decided that Assange can continue his legal battle unless the US provides assurances within three weeks that he will not face the death penalty and that he can rely on the First Amendment protections of free speech. If these assurances are not given, Assange will be allowed to appeal without further hearings.

Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, faces 18 charges in the US, including 17 under the Espionage Act, related to the publication of classified documents. These documents included diplomatic cables and military files, which the US government claims endangered lives and threatened national security. His legal team argues that the prosecution is politically motivated and that his actions were part of journalistic practice.

The court's ruling is seen as a temporary reprieve, with further legal proceedings scheduled for May 20.A UK court has ruled that Julian Assange can appeal the decision to extradite him to the United States. This ruling requires the US to provide further assurances within three weeks that Assange would not face the death penalty and would receive the same First Amendment protections as a US citizen. If these assurances are provided, a further hearing will be held on May 20 to decide on the appeal.

The court rejected other grounds for appeal, such as the claim that the extradition is politically motivated, but recognized the potential threats to Assange's free speech and his rights as a non-US citizen. This decision continues the long-running legal battle over Assange's extradition, with Assange remaining in London's Belmarsh Prison.Julian Assange's appeal against extradition to the United States is conditional on the US providing assurances within three weeks regarding his treatment. Specifically, the US must guarantee that Assange will not face the death penalty, that he will be afforded the same First Amendment protections as a US citizen, and that his trial will not be prejudiced by his nationality. This ruling by the UK High Court comes after Assange's legal team argued that his prosecution is politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial in the US.

Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, faces 18 charges in the US, including 17 under the Espionage Act, related to the publication of classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010. These documents, provided by former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, included information on US military operations and diplomatic communications.

The UK court's decision also underscores ongoing concerns about Assange's health, with his wife, Stella Assange, highlighting his deteriorating condition due to prolonged confinement. Assange has been held in Belmarsh Prison since his arrest in 2019, following his removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had sought asylum for seven years.

If the US meets the court's conditions, a further hearing is scheduled for May 20, delaying any immediate extradition. Should Assange's appeal ultimately fail, he may still seek recourse through the European courts.