Julian Assange is operating out of choices to battle his extradition to the US, however a listening to in a UK courtroom this week might enable him one other probability to attraction.
Assange’s father John Shipton informed Crikey all hope was not misplaced: “Legal professionals say Julian’s arguments are sturdy, and odds are if arguments are given their due weight and UK legislation is honoured, an appeals listening to might be allowed.”
Shipton spoke to Crikey whereas en path to London, the place Assange’s authorized staff will argue earlier than the Excessive Courtroom that the WikiLeaks founder ought to get permission to attraction the extradition. A two-day listening to has been scheduled for February 20 and 21, that means arguments might be heard from about 9pm Tuesday, Australian time.
Former detainee and Macquarie College Journalism Professor Peter Greste stated Assange’s authorized case had change into “politicised”, and risked being impacted by the US presidential election marketing campaign and the chance there’ll be an imminent election within the UK.
“You’ve successfully obtained each the US and UK in marketing campaign mode, and it does complicate Julian’s case. It turns into a political fairly than judicial difficulty,” Greste informed Crikey.
“As a former detainee myself, I perceive on a really private degree what it’s wish to be going by way of the form of imprisonment he’s enduring for the time being. Everytime I take into consideration him it makes my abdomen churn.”
On the eve of the listening to, a coalition of journalists’ unions from world wide known as for the US to drop the espionage fees on the coronary heart of the extradition case.
“Julian Assange faces prosecution for actions which are the each day work of journalists — cultivating sources and exposing felony behaviour. His conviction would jeopardise journalism the world over,” learn a joint assertion from the Worldwide Federation of Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists, the UK Nationwide Union of Journalists and Australia’s Media, Leisure & Arts Alliance.
“To safeguard free speech we demand that Assange is freed without delay, and that each one fees in opposition to him are dropped.”
Assange has been indicted on 18 US fees, together with below the Espionage Act. He dangers as much as 175 years in jail if convicted on all counts.
Final week, the Australian Parliament handed a movement calling for Assange, an Australian citizen, to be allowed to return to his nation of origin.
“I hope this may be resolved,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated. “I hope it may be resolved amicably. It’s less than Australia to intervene within the authorized processes of different international locations, however it’s acceptable for us to place our very sturdy view that these international locations have to take into consideration the necessity for this to be concluded.”
Amnesty Worldwide warned Assange’s extradition might have a profound “chilling impact” on world media freedoms. A press launch from the organisation stated Assange could possibly make an software to the European Courtroom of Human Rights even when this week’s arguments fail.