Julian Assange’s prolonged battle to evade US authorities may finally be reaching its conclusion as he faces what could be his final court hearing in London next week. The WikiLeaks founder has been fighting against his extradition to the US for years, and this hearing will determine whether he can ask an appeals court to block his transfer. If the court does not allow the appeal to go forward, Assange could be sent across the Atlantic.
Assange, an Australian computer expert, is facing 18 charges in the US related to WikiLeaks’ publication of classified documents in 2010. Prosecutors allege that he conspired with Chelsea Manning, a US army intelligence analyst, to hack into a Pentagon computer and release secret diplomatic cables and military files. The charges include 17 counts of espionage and one charge of computer misuse. If convicted, Assange’s lawyers argue that he could face up to 175 years in prison, though American authorities have suggested that any sentence is likely to be lower.
The case against Assange has dragged on for so long due to a series of legal battles and restrictions on his freedom. In 2012, he took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and was granted political asylum after courts ruled that he should be extradited to Sweden for a rape investigation. However, after Ecuador’s government withdrew his asylum status in 2019, British police arrested him for skipping bail. Despite the dropping of the Swedish investigation, Assange has remained in London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison as the US extradition battle continues.
Assange’s wife, Stella Assange, has expressed concerns about his health during his time in custody. She believes that his life is at risk every day he stays in prison and fears that he will die if he is extradited to the US. Supporters argue that Assange acted as a journalist to expose US military wrongdoing and should be protected under press freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
The possible outcomes from the upcoming hearing are uncertain. If the London court rejects Assange’s plea for a full appeal, he could be extradited to the US pending approval from British officials. His legal team plans to appeal an adverse ruling to the European Court of Human Rights, but there are concerns that he could be transferred before the court in Strasbourg, France, has a chance to halt his removal.
Assange’s current state is a cause for alarm, according to his wife. She says that his mental and physical health have deteriorated significantly during his time in prison, and he has experienced health issues such as a mini-stroke and a broken rib. Stella Assange worries about him every time he gets sick and describes the mental toll as extreme. The couple has two young sons who visit their father in prison regularly but have not been told why he is behind bars.
As the conclusion of Julian Assange’s battle against extradition approaches, the world waits to see what the outcome will be. Will he be sent to the US to face trial, potentially facing a lengthy prison sentence? Or will the courts rule in his favor and allow him to continue his fight from the UK? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain: this legal saga has been long and arduous, taking a toll on Assange’s health and well-being.
