Morrison: Assange ‘free to return’
Australia has no issue with Julian Assange returning to his home country if his massive extradition battle with the United States government is resolved in his favour.
Overnight on Monday, a judge ruled the WikiLeaks founder should not be extradited to the US to face espionage charges because of concerns about his mental health and US jail conditions.
Judge Vanessa Baraitser delivered her verdict at London’s Old Bailey court, saying she was alarmed by the effect incarceration in Britain’s Belmarsh prison has had on the 49-year-old Australian activist’s mental health.
‘‘Faced with the conditions of near total isolation without the protective factors which limited his risk at HMP Belmarsh, I am satisfied the procedures described by the US will not prevent Mr Assange from finding a way to commit suicide and for this reason I have decided extradition would be oppressive by reason of mental harm and I order his discharge,’’ she told the court.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that although Australia was not a party to the case, Assange was being offered continual consular support as he continues to fight his case.
‘‘Assuming that all that turns out, then he’s like any other Australian – he’d be free to return home if he wished.’’
Assange’s fiancee Stella Moris, with whom he has two young sons, wept in court when the decision was delivered.
The US government said it would appeal the decision. Assange has been remanded in custody before a bail application.
After yesterday’s judgment, Moris called on President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden to drop the charges against him. –