A London court has ruled that Julian Assange can appeal a decision on his extradition to the United States. WikiLeaks father is charged with publishing swaths of US military records and diplomatic cables which US authorities claim put lives in danger.
The 50-year-old Australian can seek permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court, said the judge from The High Court of Justice in London on Monday. A Monday step is the latest one in a long legal battle to stop the extradition of the whistleblower to the US to face espionage charges.
More than ten years ago, Assange has published the classified documents by WikiLeaks, an organization founded by him personally.
Earlier, a British magistrates’ court ruled that it would be “oppressive” to extradite Assange to the US justice system. As DW says, the British lawyers cited fears about his mental health and the risk of suicide.
Washington offers assurances on treatment
In its efforts o finalize the Assange saga, the United States have provided written promises that the Australian would not be detained at the ADX Florence prison in Colorado, which houses criminals such as al-Qaida extremists in almost total isolation.
Assange would also receive any psychological assistance recommended, and would eventually be eligible to apply for a transfer to a jail in his native Australia.
The WikiLeaks founder previously spent seven years at the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden where he faced allegations of sexual assault that were subsequently dropped.
