UK approves Julian Assange’s extradition to US, fuels worldwide outrage

The UK government has approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US to face criminal charges, despite an original British judge ruling that he should not be deported due to risk of suicide and a warning by his lawyer that he still remains a risk.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved the extradition on Friday, following a series of failed legal battles in the UK courts.

However, Assange has 14 days to appeal the decision, after which he will be extradited within 28 days if an appeal is refused.

“In this case, the UK courts have not found it would be oppressive, unjust, or an abuse of process to extradite Mr. Assange,” the Home Office said.

“Nor have they found extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that while in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”

Assange’s lawyers had previously said that he could face a possible penalty of up to 175 years in prison if convicted in the US.

‘Grave threat to freedom of speech’

Following the approval of his extradition, one of his lawyers said the move is a “grave threat” to freedom of speech.

This is “a grave threat to freedom of speech, not just for Julian but for every journalist and editor and media worker in this country,” said the lawyer, Jennifer Robinson.

Assange supporters rally in London to protest journalist's possible extradition

Hundreds of Julian Assange supporters have rallied in London as his lawyers urged the UK

Assange’s wife, Stella Moris, also denounced the move, saying the UK “should not be engaging in persecution on behalf of a foreign power that is out for revenge... that foreign power committed crimes which Julian put into the sunlight.”

Assange faces trial in the US over the publication of secret files that exposed the US military’s war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

‘Dark day for press freedom’

WikiLeaks asserted in a statement that Assange, 50, “did nothing wrong” and was “being punished for doing his job.”

“This is a dark day for press freedom and for British democracy,” it said.

It also said that it would appeal the decision, adding that “anyone in this country caring about freedom of expression should be deeply ashamed that the Home Secretary has approved the extradition.”

Since beginning his political activism, Assange has been praised as an anti-establishment hero who has exposed US wrongdoing in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

His supporters accuse the US and the UK of victimizing him and denounce his prosecution as a politically motivated assault on journalism and free speech.

Mick Wallace, an outspoken member of the European Parliament, also condemned the UK decision and called on the public and the media to support and raise their voice for Assange.

‘Assange punished for exposing US, UK crimes’

Others also voiced their outrage over Assange’s possible extradition to the US.

Leading British writer and journalist Jonathan Cook wrote on his Twitter account that killing Assange would solve the British and American problems.

“Assange’s death would solve a problem for the UK and US governments, who are punishing him to send a stark warning to other journalists not to emulate him but don’t want to draw attention to the reason they are punishing him: because he exposed their war crimes,” Cook said.

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