Assange Extradition Delayed: UK High Court Urges US To Offer 'Assurances' Or Face Appeal

Royal Courts of Justice in London, which houses the High Court of Justice (Photo: Joe Passe)

The British High Court of Justice partially granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s request to appeal and delayed his extradition to the United States. However, the U.S. government was given an opportunity to provide “assurances” that may result in his extradition in the next months.

Assange was granted permission to appeal [PDF] on the grounds that extradition may violate his right to freedom of expression. The court accepted that he may face prejudice due to the fact that he is a non-U.S. citizen, and that the prosecution may expose him to the death penalty, which is barred under extradition law.

But the court refused to allow Assange to appeal on the grounds that the U.S. is prosecuting him for his “political opinions,” that extradition would violate his right to a fair trial, and that extradition would violate his right to life or expose him to cruel and inhuman treatment. 

The court rejected Assange’s request to include “fresh evidence” related to alleged evidence that CIA Director Mike Pompeo and other CIA officials sketched out plans to kidnap or kill Assange while he was living under diplomatic asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy.

U.S. officials were encouraged by the court to offer “assurances” that Assange would be protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that he would not be “prejudiced at trial” as a result of his nationality, and that the death penalty will not be imposed. 

Read the full article at The Dissenter