EXTRADITION. A van with a billboard depicting Julian Assange passes by the Royal Courts of Justice on the second day of Assange's final appeal hearing at the High Court against the US’s extradition order in London, United Kingdom on February 21, 2024. The founder of Wikileaks faces extradition over allegations of leaking classified military documents from 2010 to 2011. (Anadolu)
LONDON – The last attempt by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to avoid extradition to the US ended its second day of hearings on Wednesday at the UK High Court in London.
The verdict is expected to be delivered at a later time as justices will have to communicate with involved parties for further information.
Assange faces a 175-year sentence in the US should the extradition push through.
The Australian publisher and his lawyers said the accusations against him were politically motivated.
Assange did not attend the proceedings in person or via video link due to his ongoing health problems.
After the proceedings ended inside the court, supporters of Assange marched to 10 Downing Street, calling for his release.
US threatens to put Assange in ‘deepest darkest hole'
"If he is extradited, he will lose his life. He will be killed. He will be killed by the country that has been plotting his assassination. And the court heard how the United States under the previous administration, which may be the next administration, had plotted to assassinate him,” Assange’s wife, Stella, said in a statement.
"They've stuck him in the deepest, darkest hole of the UK prison system and the US is threatening to put him in the deepest darkest hole of the US prison system for 175 years," she added.
'It's time Julian Assange was brought home'
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has intensified calls for Assange's return to his country and to end the prolonged legal battle surrounding his extradition.
In a recent interview with public broadcaster ABC Radio, Albanese revealed that he has pursued the matter at the "highest levels" in both Washington and London.
Assange, who has been detained in a UK prison since 2019, faces extradition over allegations of leaking classified military documents in 2010-2011. (Anadolu)
