Protesters gathered outside the high court in London in support of Julian Assange as the WikiLeaks founder launched another attempt to challenge his extradition to the United States.
The two-day hearing will consider whether Australian-born Assange, who has been held in Belmarsh prison for almost five years, can be allowed to appeal against an extradition ruling made in 2022 by then Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Assange’s lawyers told the court that he would not attend the hearing as he was not feeling well. His wife, Stella Assange, stated that if the appeal was rejected, Assange would ask the European Court of Human Rights under rule 39 to halt extradition while his case was being heard. She thanked the protesters and stated:
“Please keep on showing up, be there for Julian and for us, until Julian is free. We have two big days ahead, We don’t know what to expect, but you’re here because the world is watching. They just cannot get away with this. Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth.”
As part of the US proceedings, renewed during Donald Trump’s presidency, Assange faces 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misconduct involving obtaining and disclosing classified information.
The WikiLeaks revelations reportedly disclosed details of US activities in Iraq and Afghanistan and included video of a helicopter attack by US forces that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists.
His lawyers say that if Assange is found guilty of the US charges, he could receive a prison sentence of up to 175 years. Assange is accused of conspiring with US Army informant Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and disclose classified diplomatic cables and military files.
