A British court blocked Assange’s extradition to the US in 2021. According to the court, Assange might commit suicide if he ended up in an American cell. However, US authorities assured that his physical and mental health would not be at risk in the US, after which then British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition. Assange appealed, but it was rejected. Assange took the case to the British Supreme Court.
The British Supreme Court now rules that Assange can appeal against the extradition order. This allows Assange to further challenge his extradition. The United States wants to prosecute Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, for the publication of leaked information.
Assange has been trying to prevent his extradition for a long time. In 2010, Sweden issued an arrest warrant for Assange. The WikiLeaks founder was suspected of sexual assault and rape. Assange denies the charges and says the Swedish case is a pretext to extradite him to the United States to face charges over the WikiLeaks leaks.
The British Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that Assange should be extradited to Sweden, after which he was granted political asylum by Ecuador. After seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange had to leave the building. The British police subsequently arrested him. The US requested his extradition in 2019.
The case has now been adjourned until May 20.
Tags: Julian Assange appeal British Supreme Court rules extradition avoided time
