Julian Assange news - live: WikiLeaks founder will not face ‘oppressive’ extradition to US, UK court rules
The 49-year-old cannot be extradited due to his mental health and suicide risk, District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled
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Your support makes all the difference.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange cannot be lawfully extradited to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks due to his mental health and suicide risk, a UK judge has ruled.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser said that the isolated conditions Assange would likely to face in the US meant that extradition would be “oppressive”.
Assange, 49, would face a total of 17 charges of espionage and computer hacking in the US after he enflamed Washington by publishing documents revealing the grim realities of the so-called “war on terror”.
If extradited, the WikiLeaks founder could have been sentenced to as many as 175 years in a high security jail.
British district judge Vanessa Baraitser delivered her ruling at London’s Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey.
She said Assange would be kept in custody, ahead of an appeal from the US.
Assange is a ‘despairing man’, judge says
The judge says that despite a lighter spirit at times, her “overall impression” of Assange is one of "a depressed and despairing man who is genuinely fearful about his future".
She refers to an incident of self-harm in 1991 and says Assange has a family history of depression, with two male relatives who killed themselves.
No extradition due to health and suicide risk
The judge has ruled against extraditing Julian Assange to the US due to the potential risks to his health and well-being.
No extradition due to health and suicide risk
The judge has ruled against extraditing Julian Assange to the US due to the potential risks to his health and well-being.
Julian Assange will not be extradited to US to face charges over Wikileaks, judge rules
Julian Assange will not be extradited to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks, our Home Affairs and Security Correspondent Lizzie Dearden reports.
Read her breaking coverage from court on what WikiLeaks has called the biggest press freedom case in decades:
Julian Assange will not be extradited to US to face charges over Wikileaks, judge rules
Julian Assange cannot be lawfully extradited to the US to face charges over WikiLeaks because of his mental health and suicide risk, a judge has ruled.
Assange to be kept in custody ahead of expected appeal
Julian Assange is expected to be kept in custody, ahead of an appeal expected from the US, district judge Vanessa Baraitser has said.
The WikiLeaks founder is meeting with his lawyers and then court will resume at around 11.45am.
Crowd cheers outside Old Bailey over Assange ruling
A crowd of people waiting outside the Old Bailey to hear the court decision on whether Julian Assange should be extradited to the US cheered as news broke that district judge Vanessa Baraitser had ruled against the extradition.
“Victory!” one woman could be heard shouting outside the courthouse in video shared on social media.
Meanwhile, others cheered in a crowd, where many appeared to not be wearing face masks or practicing social distancing measures.
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott applauds ‘excellent ruling’
Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has applauded the decision not to allow the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as an “excellent ruling”.
"Congratulations to all the dogged campaigners on Assange's behalf," she said in a tweet.
US press freedom foundation says ruling ‘huge relief’ for ‘rights of journalists’
US non-profit Freedom of the Press Foundation has welcomed the decision against extraditing Julian Assange as a “huge relief to anyone who cares about the rights of journalists".
“The case against Julian Assange is the most dangerous threat to US press freedom in decades. This is a huge relief to anyone who cares about the rights of journalists,” the non-profit said in a tweet.
“The extradition request was not decided on press freedom grounds; rather, the judge essentially ruled the US prison system was too repressive to extradite. However, the result will protect journalists everywhere,” it added.
Veteran reporter John Pilger brands ruling ‘face-saving cover for the British’
Veteran journalist John Pilger has branded the decision not to extradite Julian Assange to the US a “face-saving cover for the British” to justify their treatment of the WikiLeaks founder.
“Julian #Assange has been discharged by the judge at the Old Bailey on grounds that he was too great a suicide risk if extradited to the US,” the journalist, who has been a vocal advocate for Assange, noted in a tweet.
“This is wonderful!" Mr Pilger said.
However, he asserted: “It's a face-saving cover for the British to justify their disgraceful political trial of #Assange on America's behalf."
Tory MP David Davis says decision is ‘good news’
Conservative MP David Davis has called the decision against extraditing Julian Assange “good news”.
“Good news Julian Assange's extradition has been blocked,” he wrote in a tweet.
“Extradition treaties should not be used for political prosecutions,” he asserted.
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