The final decision on whether Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, will be extradited to the United States could be determined by a British court on Monday. The decision will mark the end of 13 years of legal battles and detentions for Assange. Two judges at the High Court in London will decide if the court is satisfied with US assurances that Assange will not face the death penalty and will have the right to free speech under the First Amendment if he faces a trial for spying in the US. Assange’s legal team believes he could be on a plane to the US within 24 hours of the decision, released from jail, or caught up in further legal battles.
In 2010, WikiLeaks released hundreds of thousands of classified US military documents regarding Washington’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as diplomatic cables. This led to the largest security breaches in US military history. The US authorities are seeking to prosecute Assange on 18 charges under the Espionage Act, claiming his actions were reckless, damaged national security, and put the lives of agents in danger. However, global supporters of Assange view the prosecution as an assault on journalism and free speech, with calls for the case to be dropped coming from various human rights groups, media bodies, and political leaders.
Assange has been in some form of detention since 2010. He was initially arrested in Britain on a Swedish warrant related to sex crime allegations that were later dropped. Subsequently, he spent seven years holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London before being held in Belmarsh’s top security jail since 2019, awaiting the extradition ruling. If the High Court approves the extradition, Assange’s legal options in the UK will be exhausted, and his lawyers will seek an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights to prevent deportation. Alternatively, if the judges reject the US submissions, Assange will have permission to appeal his extradition on three grounds, possibly delaying proceedings until the next year.
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, has expressed her uncertainty about the outcome of the final decision, but has vowed to continue fighting for her husband’s freedom. She plans to follow him to Australia or wherever he is safe if he is released. However, if he is extradited, she has stated that all psychiatric evidence presented has shown he is at serious risk of suicide. Their family continues to live from day to day, week to week, and decision to decision, navigating the uncertainty and cruelty of the situation. Stella remains determined to fight for her husband’s freedom and believes that even if he is extradited, the family will continue the battle for his release.
The potential outcomes of the High Court’s decision on Monday are highly uncertain. If the judges permit Assange’s extradition, his legal team will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights in hopes of preventing immediate deportation. On the other hand, if the judges reject the US submissions, Assange will have the opportunity to appeal his extradition on three grounds. There is also the possibility that the judges may consider the substance of the appeal during Monday’s hearing. Stella Assange remains prepared to support her husband regardless of the court’s decision, and the family will continue their fight for his freedom. The uncertainty of their situation has persisted for years, but their determination to ensure Julian’s safety and liberty remains unwavering.
