Julian Assange’s Legal Battle Update
In a recent ruling by two senior judges of the London High Court, it was decided that the US submissions regarding Julian Assange’s case were insufficient, allowing for a full appeal to proceed.
Background on Julian Assange
- Julian Assange, born in 1971, is an Australian editor and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006.
- WikiLeaks gained attention in 2010 for releasing classified US military documents, including a video showing a 2007 US helicopter attack in Baghdad.
Legal Proceedings and Recent Developments
In March, the court granted Assange permission to appeal on three grounds, pending satisfactory assurances from the US regarding the death penalty and free speech rights.
Following the recent ruling, Assange’s wife Stella expressed hope for a favorable judgment and mentioned the possibility of seeking emergency relief from the European Court of Human Rights.
If Assange had been extradited to the US, he could have faced a sentence of up to 175 years in a maximum security prison.
Assange has been in legal battles since his initial arrest in the UK in 2010. Despite facing various challenges, the recent ruling allows him to continue appealing his extradition case.
With the rejection of US assurances by the judges, Assange’s legal team may now turn to the European Court of Human Rights for further intervention.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the timeline for Assange’s appeal hearing may extend into the following year.
