London court allows WikiLeaks founder to appeal against an extradition order

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can appeal against extradition to the United States on espionage charges a London court ruled on Monday reported news agency APHigh Court judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson said Assange has grounds to challenge the United Kingdoms governments extradition order Assange faces 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his websites publication of a trove of classified US documents almost 15 years agoThe Australian computer expert has spent the last five years in a British highsecurity prison after taking refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for seven yearsLawyers for Assange argued Monday that the US provided blatantly inadequate assurances the WikiLeaks founder would have free press protections if extradited to America to face espionage chargesLawyer Edward Fitzgerald said prosecutors had failed to guarantee that Assange who is an Australian citizen and claims protections as a journalist for publishing US classified information could rely on press protections of the First Amendment of the US ConstitutionThe real issue is whether an adequate assurance has been provided to remove the real risk identified by the court Fitzgerald said It is submitted that no adequate assurance has been madeThe hearing in the High Court in London could end with Assange being sent to the US to face espionage charges or could provide him another chance to appeal his extraditionThe outcome will depend on how much weight judges give to assurances US officials have provided that Assanges rights wont be trampled if he goes on trialAssange 52 has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his websites publication of a trove of classified US documents almost 15 years ago American prosecutors allege that Assange encouraged and helped US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks publishedAssanges lawyers have argued he was a journalist who exposed US military wrongdoing in Iraq and Afghanistan Sending him to the US they said would expose him to a politically motivated prosecution and risk a flagrant denial of justiceThe US government says Assanges actions went way beyond those of a journalist gathering information amounting to an attempt to solicit steal and indiscriminately publish classified government documentsIn March two judges rejected the bulk of Assanges arguments but said he could take his case to the Court of Appeal unless the US guaranteed he would not face the death penalty if extradited and would have the same free speech protections as a US citizenThe court said that if Assange couldnt rely on the First Amendment then it was arguable his extradition would be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights which also provides free speech and media protectionsThe US provided those reassurances but Assanges legal team and supporters argue they are not good enough to rely on to send him to the US federal court system because the First Amendment promises fall short The US said Assange could seek to rely on the amendment but it would be up to a judge to decide whether he couldAttorney James Lewis representing the US said Assanges conduct was simply unprotected by the First AmendmentNo one neither US citizens nor foreign citizens are entitled to rely on the First Amendment in relation to publication of illegally obtained national defence information giving the names of innocent sources to their grave and imminent risk of harm Lewis saidThe WikiLeaks founder who has spent the past five years in a British prison was not in court to hear his fate being debated He did not attend for health reasons Fitzgerald saidCommuters emerging from a Tube stop near the courthouse couldnt miss a large sign bearing Assanges photo and the words Publishing is not a crime War crimes areScores of supporters gathered outside the neoGothic Royal Courts of Justice chanting Free Julian Assange and Press freedom Assange freedomSome held a large white banner aimed at President Joe Biden exhorting Let him go JoeAssanges lawyers say he could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted though American authorities have said any sentence would likely be much shorterAssanges family and supporters say his physical and mental health have suffered during more than a decade of legal battles which includes seven years spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London from 2012 until 2019 He has spent the past five years in a British highsecurity prisonBiden said last month that he was considering a request from Australia to drop the case and let Assange return to his home countryOfficials provided no other details but Stella Assange said it was a good sign and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the comment was encouragingWith inputs from AP