Julian Assange to Be Extradited to US: UK Home Sec. Signs Order

Assange

The British Home Secretary Priti Patel has actually signed an extradition order, to send  WikiLeaks creator Julian Assange to the United States where he is wanted by authorities for releasing classified files. WikiLeaks stated Friday was a “dark day” for press liberty and British democracy.

Assange, 50, is wanted by authorities in the United States for releasing countless diplomatic cables and other classified files in 2010 and 2011 after they were passed to Wikileaks.

In January the High Court in London stated Assange might make a final appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court stated Assange’s attorneys had actually not raised “an arguable point of law”  and declined to hear that appeal, clearing the method for extradition.

Assange, who wed his South African sweetheart Stella Moris in November, has actually argued he will not get a reasonable trial in the United States. He might deal with up to 175 years in prison if convicted.

On Friday a Home Office spokesman said: “Under the Extradition Act 2003, the Secretary of State must sign an extradition order if there are no grounds to prohibit the order being made. Extradition requests are only sent to the Home Secretary once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case.”

The spokesman added: “On 17 June, following consideration by both the Magistrates Court and High Court, the extradition of Mr. Julian Assange to the US was ordered. Mr. Assange retains the normal 14-day right to appeal. In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr. Assange. Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”

U.S. district attorneys have actually prosecuted Assange on 18 criminal charges of breaking an espionage law and conspiring to hack federal government computer systems.

WikiLeaks released a U.S. military video in 2010 revealing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed at least twelve people, including two Reuters news personnel. It then released countless secret diplomatic cable televisions and classified files, that included important appraisals of world leaders, from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal household.

Assange took refuge inside Ecuador’s London embassy for 7 years from 2012 till he was detained in April 2019 for avoiding bail throughout a different legal fight.

He is being kept in London’s high-security Belmarsh prison.

Julian Assange’s wife Stella issued a statement after hearing of the home secretary’s move, in which she said: “This is a dark day for press freedom and for British democracy. Anyone in this country who cares about freedom of expression should be deeply ashamed that the Home Secretary has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, the country that plotted his assassination.”

H/T The Epoch Times

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