The Supreme Court ruled that Assange can file a new appeal if US authorities give no further assurances about what will happen
The High Court in the UK has ruled that jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be immediately extradited to the United States, allowing Assange to appeal against his extradition to another hearing.
The Supreme Court said in a written statement that Assange may file a new appeal if the US authorities do not provide further assurances about what will happen to him.
On May 20, another hearing will be held
In the statement, it was stated that Assange will be allowed to appeal on grounds such as violation of freedom of expression and the possibility of the death penalty if the US does not provide any assurances:
"If these assurances are not given, permission to appeal will be granted and an appeal hearing will follow. If assurances are given, the parties will be given another opportunity to make submissions and a further hearing will be held on May 20 to decide whether the assurances are satisfactory and to make a final decision on leave to appeal."
"This is a revenge case"
Assange's wife Stella Assange, who made a statement after the court, said that the decision was regrettable in terms of freedom of expression.
Stella Assange, who argued that her husband was discriminated against because he was an Australian citizen and faced the death penalty if he was sent to the US, said, "Despite this, the court invited the US to intervene politically and say everything is fine with a letter."
Stella Assange noted that the US attacked freedom of the press and freedom of expression during the 5-year trial and said, "The court did not accept the evidence that the US was planning to kidnap and kill Julian. Acceptance of this would have meant that Julian could not be sent to the US."
Stella Assange, who said that her husband is a political prisoner, said: "Julian is being charged because he is a journalist and because he has exposed the true cost of war on human life. This is a case of revenge. This is a message to all of you. If you expose the interests of those who want war, they will hunt you down, imprison you and even kill you."
Stating that Julian Assange has been in prison for 5 years without any decision, Stella Assange said:
"The British court wants assurances from the U.S. (U.S. President Joe) Biden's administration should withdraw this case instead of giving assurances. This shameful case should never have been filed. Julian should never have spent a single day in prison. This is a shame for their democracy."
Up to 175 years in prison
While Assange's lawyers and supporters, who published thousands of secret documents in October 2010, including evidence of US crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, state that he could face up to 175 years in prison if extradited to the US, the US side suggests that the prison sentence could be 4 to 6 years.
Julian Assange's wife, Stella Assange, said last month that if the court decides to extradite her husband, they will apply to the European Court of Human Rights.
Assange's trial process
On October 28, 2010, WikiLeaks, founded by Assange, published 251,000 classified documents, including evidence of US crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Assange was removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had taken refuge in June 2012, on April 11, 2019 and was arrested for "breaching the conditions of his release on bail" and placed in Belmarsh Prison in London.
The court ordered Assange, who was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison, to remain in detention after completing his sentence within the framework of the extradition request.
