The UK High Court of Justice has released a 66 page judgement seeking more information from the United States relating to Australian citizen Julian Assange, which it says it needs before deciding whether to grant the WikiLeaks founder leave to appeal his extradition.
After weeks of silence, the justices have extended Mr Assange’s legal limbo but also given him a possible lifeline to avoid being sent to the USA, where he faces a grim fate.
They are now requesting assurances from the American legal system that Assange will be permitted to rely on the US Constitution’s first amendment (protecting free speech), that he will not be prejudiced at trial or sentence because of his nationality, and that the death penalty will not be imposed if he should be convicted.
The US authorities have three weeks to respond.
Assurances
The UK justices said in their ruling, ‘If assurances are not given then we will grant leave to appeal without a further hearing. If assurances are given then we will give the parties an opportunity to make further submissions before we make a final decision on the application for leave to appeal.’
Julian Assange’s wife Stella said outside the court that it was inappropriate for the American authorities to be given the opportunity to offer assurances, saying ‘this shameful case’ should never have been brought to trial, and that her husband was being persecuted for exposing ‘the true cost of war in human lives’.
The UK justices have refused to consider evidence that the Americans plotted to kidnap or assassinate Mr Assange, and say there are no longer provisions in the UK’s laws to prevent extradition for political offences.
Julian Assange will remain in Belmarsh Prison, reportedly in very poor health, while this process continues. Even if he wins the right to appeal, experts say it’s unlikely that the case would be heard within the next six months, prolonging his punishment in the UK.
Australia’s ambassador to the USA, Kevin Rudd, is reportedly lobbying on Julian Assange’s behalf in Washington.
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