Julian Assange launches final appeal against US extradition

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On Tuesday, Julian Assange made his last effort in English courts to block extradition to the United States. He's facing accusations of spying and hacking for the release of a massive collection of classified documents, and is hoping to avoid standing trial.

Attorneys representing the founder of WikiLeaks, whose platform made public classified military records and diplomatic messages exposing United States operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, argued in the High Court of London that his extradition would result in an egregious violation of justice.

The Australian citizen has been fighting for years to prevent his deportation and the two-day court proceeding is a significant point in his legal battle.

The US government has portrayed him as a threat to both the country's overall security and the well-being of specific individuals.

Additionally, they have labeled the statements from his team of lawyers as a significant overstatement, asserting that he faces the possibility of spending 175 years in jail if prosecuted in the United States.

The individuals who support Assange depict him as a prisoner detained for political reasons and a journalist whose situation is a significant examination of the liberty of the press. Assange himself is detained in the highly secure Belmarsh prison located in London.

A 52-year-old person did not appear for a legal hearing, due to illness, as claimed by his attorneys. However, there was a lively group of supporters, including his spouse Stella Assange, present at the courthouse. Stella Assange claimed that the US security forces sought vengeance for the exposure of their unlawful activities.

Edward Fitzgerald, the lawyer defending Assange in court, argued that his client is facing prosecution for basic journalistic activities that involve acquiring and sharing accurate classified data.

Assange's lawyers wrote that the United States is willing to do whatever it takes to prevent individuals from seeking justice for their crimes, and Assange was one of their targets.

Assange's legal team alleged that there was proof suggesting that the American security agencies had conspired to abduct or assassinate him.

In 2021, a British court at a lower level prevented his extradition because they believed that it would increase the likelihood of him committing suicide. Meanwhile, they rejected the objections made by his attorneys based on different legal grounds.

Later that same year, the High Court changed their decision when they received reassurances from the US regarding his treatment.

Assange's legal team has requested to appeal on additional grounds that were previously disregarded by the lower court in the latest legal proceedings. This includes asserting that his extradition is driven by political reasons.

In case the English courts rule against him, they intend to request the European Court of Human Rights to halt his extradition voyage.