The 49-year-old Australian Australian has been charged under the Espinage Act in the US for his role in publishing classified military and diplomatic cables.
“I have determined that extradition will be oppressive and I order its dissolution,” Judge Vanessa Barotes said in her ruling on Monday.
In the case of extradition to the United States, despite the verdict that Assange would be given a “fair trial”, the judge believed that “special administrative measures” Assange would likely be held in, with serious, negative effects on his mental health. .
“I think Mr. Assange’s mental state is such that it would be oppressive to send him to the United States of America.”
News of a tight crowd of supporters outside the Old Bailey in London on Monday celebrated: “Free, free, free, Assange!”
The U.S. said it would appeal the decision and sought to have the WikiLeaks founder in custody while the process continues.
“While we are extremely disappointed with the court’s final decision, we are convinced that the United States stands strong on every issue of the law that has been raised,” said Mark Raymondi, executive director of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice, in a statement. “In particular, the court rejected all of Mr. Assange’s arguments regarding political motivation, political crime, fair trial and freedom of speech.”
The department will “continue” Assange’s extradition, Raimondi added.
On Wednesday, Judge Assange’s legal team will consider bail.
Assange’s lawyers and supporters have long argued that the extradition order against him is politically motivated, and that if it is enforced, his U.S. And the U.K. Both will have a chilling effect on press freedom.
Speaking outside the court on Monday, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Christine Hrafnson said she was concerned the decision would be appealed and that US President Donald Trump would be asked to “end this now”.
“The fight isn’t over, it won’t be over until Julian goes home,” Hrafans said.
Rebecca Vincent, director of international operations for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the group welcomed the judge’s decision that Assange should not be extradited because of his serious mental health problems, but that he was “very concerned about the substance of the decision.”
In April 2019, the United States charged Assange with “conspiracy to infiltrate a computer”, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. In May 2019, the federal government charged Assange with 17 more counts under the Aspenage Act for his role in the release of classified military and diplomatic cables.
Each of them faces a potential sentence of 10 years, meaning that if convicted, Assange could face up to 175 years in prison.
‘Tear down the prison walls’
U.S. Prosecutors argued that by releasing diplomatic cables in an uncontrolled manner, Assange endangered the lives of sources and informants “immediately”, and that U.S. The capabilities of the forces were damaged.
“Reporting or journalism is not a license to commit a crime,” James Lewis, an adviser to the U.S. government, told the court.
Stella Morris, the mother of both Assange’s partner and the couple’s children, said Monday that she was glad the court recognized the seriousness and inhumanity of what she had endured and what she was facing, “but noted that the charges against Assange were dropped. Was not.
Morris added that she was “extremely concerned” that the U.S. The government has decided to appeal the decision, saying the move “continues to punish Julian and the rest of the U.S. prison system disappears into the deepest, darkest hole in his life.”
Addressing Trump, he said, “Mr. President, tear down the walls of this prison.” [so] That our little boys are their fathers. Free Julian, free the press, free everyone. ”
Morris has launched a Twitter campaign asking the US president to pardon Assange before leaving office.
Julia Hall, an Amnesty International expert on human rights in Europe, said in a statement in September 2020 that the effects of the extradition order could not be underestimated.
Assange is being held in London’s HMP Belmarsh prison, one of the safest facilities in England and Wales, since he was arrested by UK authorities in April 2019, after Ecuador revoked his right to political asylum.
Nils Melzer, the UN’s special rapper on torture, has previously said that after years of suffering “gradually severe forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” Assange exhibits “extreme stress, anxiety and severe trauma.”
He added that Assange had been subjected to “repressive isolation, harassment and surveillance inside the embassy” as well as “intentional mass ridicule, insults and insults.”
Morris said in an editorial published in the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper on Saturday that Assange “tried to keep the powerful accountable, just as any other journalist works.”
“Julian and Washington are ashamed of Washington and this is their revenge,” he said.
Caitlin Polantz contributed to this report.
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