Assange too ill to attend court hearing on US extradition
JULIAN ASSANGE was too ill to appear in court yesterday on the first day of his final appeal against extradition to the United States, his lawyers said.
Lawyers for the Wikileaks founder claimed he was a victim of “state retaliation” by the US, which plotted to kidnap or kill him, saying that he was at risk of a “flagrant denial of justice” if he is extradited on espionage charges.
Mr Assange, whose supporters say could face up to 175 years in jail if extradited, had hoped to attend the hearing but did not appear at the High Court yesterday because of “reasons of health”. Mr Assange is wanted in the US over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information after Wikileaks’ published hundreds of thousands of documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Mr Assange spent seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London before he was removed when his political asylum was revoked in 2019. He has since been remanded in custody at London’s Belmarsh prison. In a January 2021 ruling, then district judge Vanessa Baraitser said Mr Assange should not be sent to the US, citing a real and “oppressive” risk of suicide, while ruling against him on all other issues. However the High Court later ruled that he should be extradited, dismissing claims that he might take his own life in a US jail.
Lawyers for Mr Assange are now asking for the go-ahead to challenge the dismissal of other parts of his case against extradition. Mark Summers KC, representing Mr Assange, said: “This is a paradigm example of state retaliation for the expression of political opinion.” He also said there was “truly breathtaking” evidence of a plot by the US to kidnap or kill Mr Assange.
Mr Assange’s supporters gathered outside the High Court from 8am, and were addressed by his wife Stella. “Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth,” she said.
US authorities are opposing Mr Assange’s bid and have told the court his case is “unarguable” and should not be allowed to proceed. The hearing is due to conclude today with their decision on whether Mr Assange can bring the appeal expected at a later date.