WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
A British judge has refused to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face charges including espionage.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said at London’s Old Bailey Court on Monday (Jan. 4) that Assange was at risk of suicide after being sent to the United States.
The judge also ordered his release. U.S. government lawyers said they would appeal the ruling.
Assange was born in Australia and is 49 years old. The U.S. government filed the extradition request based on 17 charges of espionage against him and one charge of computer misuse in connection with the release of thousands of classified U.S. cables by WikiLeaks in 2010 and 2011. The cables were primarily related to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Assange will spend the rest of his life in prison on these charges, as the total time served for the charges combined will be 175 years.
In opposing the U.S. extradition request, Assange’s legal team argued that the U.S. charges are politically motivated and that Assange’s mental health is currently at risk. They also argued that the U.S. prison conditions violate British human rights law.
Judge Ballast accepted these arguments.
Assange supporters and others gathered outside the Old Bailey are celebrating the verdict, arguing that the outcome is a victory for human rights, freedom of expression and Assange himself.
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