London, England – The legal battle over the potential extradition of Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, is sparking controversy as his lawyers accuse the US of “state retaliation.” Mr. Assange is currently in Belmarsh, a UK prison, and is wanted by the American authorities for releasing classified military files in 2010 and 2011.
During a two-day High Court hearing, Mr. Assange’s legal team contended that it would be unlawful under UK law to hand him over for prosecution in the US. If the appeal is rejected, Mr. Assange could face extradition within weeks.
His lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald KC, argued that the US’s prosecution bid was “politically motivated” and highlighted that Mr. Assange was exposing serious criminal activity. Another lawyer, Mark Summers KC, asserted that the US sought retribution for Mr. Assange’s political opinions.
The lawyers also raised concerns about the risk of extrajudicial actions by the CIA or other agencies, citing a potential plot to harm Mr. Assange during his time in the Ecuadorian embassy from 2012 to 2019. The legal battle began in 2010, when Wikileaks disclosed countless confidential military files, leading to Mr. Assange’s subsequent arrest in 2019.
While a British judge previously ruled that the US had a legitimate criminal case against Mr. Assange, concerns were raised about his potential self-harm. The US later appealed this ruling, offering assurances about Mr. Assange’s treatment if extradited, including the possibility of serving any jail sentence in Australia.
As his legal team continues to fight the extradition order, they are requesting permission to challenge the order signed by the UK home secretary in 2022. Supporters of Mr. Assange gathered outside the High Court, expressing solidarity with him and expressing concerns about the potential consequences of his extradition. Mrs. Assange emphasized the case’s significance, describing it as a matter of life and death for her husband, as the world awaits the court’s decision.