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Added on the 04/01/2021 17:12:01 - Copyright : Euronews EN
Julian Assange's partner Stella Moris says 'today is a victory for Julian' and a 'first step towards justice' but adds that she is 'extremely concerned that the US government has decided to appeal this decision'. SOUNDBITE
London, Jan 4 (EFE/EPA).- (Camera: Vickie Flores/Facundo Arrizabalaga)A British court on Monday rejected a request by the United States to extradite the founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, on the grounds that it would be detrimental to his mental health and that he would be a suicide risk. Assange, an Australian citizen, is accused by the US of espionage over the publication of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.FOOTAGE OF STELLA MORRIS, ASSANGE'S PARTNER AND JOHN REES, DIRECTOR OF 'DON'T EXTRADITE ASSANGE'.
Stella Assange, wife of Julian Assange, and his supporters march to 10 Downing Street in London to call for his release after a British High Court heard a last-ditch bid by the jailed WikiLeaks founder to appeal his extradition to the US to face espionage charges. Washington indicted Assange multiple times between 2018 and 2020 over WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of secret military and diplomatic files on the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. IMAGES
Jennifer Robinson, lawyer for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, calls the British government's approval of Assange's extradition to the United States "a grave threat to freedom of speech, not just for Julian but for every journalist and editor and media worker in this country." Assange faces trial in the US over the publication of secret files relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. SOUNDBITE
Stella Moris arrives at Belmarsh jail for her marriage to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Wearing a white wedding dress designed by Vivienne Westwood, Moris is joined by her two children and family members. Assange, 50, is fighting attempts to remove him from Britain to face trial in the United States over the publication of secret files relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. IMAGES
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will find out Monday whether he can be extradited from the UK to the US. Should the extradition be approved, Assange would face espionage charges over the publication of secret American military documents. But according to Newser, whichever side loses is expected to appeal, which could lead to years more legal wrangling. Stella Moris is Assange's partner and the mother of his two sons. She's appealed to President Trump via Twitter to grant a pardon to Assange before he leaves office. Lawyers for the US government said in their hearing in the fall that Assange's defense team had raised issues that were neither relevant nor admissible.