UK Court Issues Order to Extradite Assange
Accredited journalist Richard Medhurst reports on the court proceedings at Westminster Magistrates Court as it ordered the extradition of journalist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the US
UK Court Issues Order to Extradite Assange
The Westminster Magistrate’s Court has issued an order to extradite journalist and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States.
I attended Assange’s hearing remotely, see my first-hand reporting here.
The order was sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel who has to sign off on extraditions. Assange’s defense has until May 18 to make submissions to Patel against extradition.
Meanwhile Assange will remain in custody. He can only appeal once Patel has made a decision.
Background of the case
The United States is seeking the extradition of Julian Assange for publishing classified documents which revealed US war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, and more.
Assange is being charged with espionage (17 counts) and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion (1 count). He faces up to 175 years in prison.
His case, and the threat it poses to press freedoms, has been condemned by virtually every major journalistic and human rights organizations.
Last year, in January 2021, a district judge blocked his extradition to the US on health grounds, citing Assange's precarious mental health, and untenable prison conditions in the United States. She found that he would be likely to commit suicide if extradited.
On the other hand, she agreed with virtually all the charges, such as espionage and hacking, which effectively criminalizes national security journalism.
The United States appealed this decision and sent diplomatic assurances that Assange would not be held in isolating Special Administrative Measures (SAMs), would be allowed to serve his sentence in his home country Australia, and would receive adequate medical care.
The High Court accepted these assurances, although they have been criticized as empty promises. Assange’s partner said, "they're not worth the paper they're written on".
One case cited by Assange's lawyers, where US extradition promises were broken, is that of David Mendoza.
Mendoza was extradited from Spain to US and even given a written contract from US govt that he would serve his sentence back in Spain.
I published the classified docs from his case, showing how the U.S. broke its promises, and are likely to do the same with Assange.
After the High Court accepted the US diplomatic assurances, they also denied Assange permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, but certified one point of law, ultimately leaving the decision up to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court delivered its decision last month in March, denying Assange permission to appeal.
With today’s Court order Assange’s case is referred to UK Home Secretary Priti Patel.