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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the United States. That was decided by a London court. The reason is the detention conditions that awaited him there. The United States announced the appointment.
A London court has ruled: Britain will not extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.
The reason was the prison conditions that awaited the 49-year-old native Australian in the United States, the court said. The judge justified his decision by saying that Assange was expected to commit suicide in solitary confinement.
A year and a half in the maximum security prison
Assange has been in the Belmarsh Maximum Security Prison in South East London for about a year and a half. In view of the corona pandemic, it was only allowed to receive a very limited number of visitors, and phone calls abroad were not unlimited.
Family members have long been concerned about Assange’s health and mental state.
Up to 175 years in prison
US prosecutors accuse Assange of espionage because the WikiLeaks exposure platform published confidential US military documents a decade ago. If convicted, Assange could face up to 175 years in prison in the United States.
Human rights activists, politicians, and organizations like Reporters Without Borders had previously warned that Assange would not get a fair trial in the United States.
Could keep the courts busy for a long time
The United States announced that it would appeal the London court’s decision. After a new instance, the procedure could go to the British Supreme Court and finally deal with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. According to expert evaluations, a final decision can be made at least until the second half of 2021.
In front of the London courthouse, Assange supporters jumped into the air with joy, as a reporter from the dpa news agency observed. Dozens had called for “freedom for Julian Assange” in chants.
