Call to end Assange extradition

Lawyers and legal academics have called on the UK government to end extradition proceedings against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and release him from prison.

Assange is fighting to avoid being sent to the US to face 17 charges under the Espionage Act and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion after the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel, 169 individuals and international legal organisations called for the government to intervene.

If extradited, campaigners said the 49-year-old will face a “show trial” in the US. They added he has been subject to surveillance which violates his right to a fair trial.

“We call on you to act in accordance with national and international law, human rights and the rule of law by bringing an end to the ongoing extradition proceedings and granting Mr Assange his long overdue freedom,” the letter, signed Lawyers for Assange, reads.

The open letter comes after the US made a fresh extradition request with a third version of the charges against him on Friday.

Lawyers for the Wikileaks founder are now to decide whether to seek a further delay to his extradition battle.