In case of refusal, the Australian, at the heart of a diplomatic imbroglio for more than ten years, could be quickly extradited to the United States, where it is continued for espionage.
Le Monde with AFP
It may be a turning point in a judicial saga that has lasted for years: the High Court of London examines the application for the Supreme Court of the founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange on Monday, who is likely case of refusal to be extradited shortly to the United States.
The United States criticizes the Australian from broadcasting more than 700,000 classified documents on US military and diplomatic activities, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. In particular for espionage, it risks up to one hundred and seventy-five years in prison in a case, according to its support, a gravity attack against freedom of the press.
British justice had initially decided in his favor a year ago, when Vanessa BarAritser J. opposed the remoditor to the US Australian authorities of 50, invoking the risk of suicide. But Washington won a major victory in December, when the UK senior magistrates canceled this decision, believing that the United States had provided insurance that meets the concerns of the judge.
His exhausted judicial remedies
Assange lawyers then filed an application for the Supreme Court, which the judges of the High Court are responsible for examining Monday and authorize or not. They will make their decision at 11:45 (Paris time). In case of refusal, the founder of Wikileaks will have almost exhausted his judicial remedies. His request for extradition will be forwarded to a British court with the recommendation to send it to the British Interior Minister Prii Patel, responsible for making the final decision.
“Except in the event of an appeal, the person sought must be extradited within twenty-eight days of the decision of the Secretary of State to order extradition,” says the government’s website. Incarcerated in a high security prison near London for two and a half years, Julian Assange was arrested by the British police in April 2019 after spending seven years in the London Embassy of Ecuador, where he had taken refuge. that he was on bail.
He feared extradition to the United States or Sweden, where he was prosecuted for rape, abandoned since. At the appeal hearing on his extradition at the end of October, the United States sought to reassure treatment that would be reserved for the founder of Wikileaks.
supporters of a political asylum in France
Washington assured that it would not be incarcerated at the Florence’s High Security AdX Prison (Colorado), nicknamed “The Rocky Alcatraz” – where are particularly detained with the almost total isolation of members of Al-Qaida – and that he would receive the necessary clinical and psychological care. They also mentioned the possibility that he could ask to purge his sentence in Australia.
Guarantees who convinced the British judges, but not the Assange’s fiancée, Stella Morris, fearing for his health if he is extradited to a country who, according to her, “plotted to kill Julian because of this that he published “.
M me Morris, with which Julian Assange had two children when he was recluse to the Embassy of Ecuador, will be present on Monday morning at the London High Court, where it will give a press conference after the court’s decision. The Australian has received the support of about 40 French MPs of all who have argued that it can benefit from political asylum in France.