Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has secured the right to appeal his extradition to the United States, which poses significant implications for free speech protections and may potentially reshape the legal landscape around national security journalism. High Court judges in London granted Assange this legal avenue, stirring a response from a global audience attuned to the decade-long saga.
Assange faces 17 charges under the U.S. Espionage Act and one count of computer misuse stemming from WikiLeaks’ publication of a trove of classified U.S. documents nearly 15 years ago. If extradited and convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence, although U.S. authorities have indicated it would likely be less than the maximum.
The decision from the High Court came after Assange’s lawyers argued that the U.S. provided “blatantly inadequate” assurances regarding the protection of his free speech rights, drawing into question the application of the First Amendment to non-U.S. citizens and setting a potentially precedent-setting stage for the role of journalism in matters of national security.
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, criticized the U.S.’s attempt to gloss over these concerns, stating outside the Royal Courts of Justice that the U.S. government tried to put “lipstick on a pig — but the judges did not buy it.” She called the protracted case “shameful” and emphasized the heavy toll it has taken on Assange, who has already spent several years in a British high-security prison and seven years in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London seeking asylum.
They recognized that being deprived of a First Amendment defense could render his extradition incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, which similarly enshrines free speech and media protections. Additionally, concerns were raised that if Assange could not rely on the First Amendment due to his Australian nationality, it could lead to an unfair trial due to discrimination based on nationality.
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) co-chair Anne Ramberg highlighted the case’s significance, not just for Assange but for public interest journalism at large. She noted that United Nations experts have raised the alarm that Assange’s extradition could create a chilling effect on investigative journalism globally.
Supporters gathered outside the courthouse, echoing these sentiments and calling for President Joe Biden to act on a request from Australia to drop the case and allow Assange to return to his home country. “Free Julian Assange” and “Press freedom, Assange freedom” were among the chants heard, as well as calls to “Let him go Joe.”
Relevant articles:
– WikiLeaks Founder Assange Wins Right to Appeal Against an Extradition Order to the US, Military, 05/20/2024
– Will the First Amendment Save Assange?, The American Conservative, 06/10/2024
– Biden must drop charges against Assange, says IBA, Lawyers Weekly, 06/09/2024
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This man needs to spend several years in a US prison. His extradition will put him into the US court system, which has many safeguards for the accused. He continues to face a trial in the US and uses the British legal system (among others) to avoid this.