A transfer of the Wikileaks founder to the United States seems to be getting closer. In the USA, the 50-year-old Australian faces up to 175 years in prison on allegations of espionage.
Britain has approved the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. A corresponding instruction had been signed by Home Secretary Priti Patel, her ministry announced on Friday in London.
After years of back and forth in various courts, it was now the turn of the British government. At the end of last year, the High Court in London lifted an extradition ban on Assange that had previously been issued because of the risk of suicide. The Supreme Court (Supreme Court) had recently rejected an appeal.
It was initially unclear whether and when the 50-year-old Australian would be extradited. According to his supporters, legal recourse has not yet been exhausted. They fear that he will be sent to a maximum security prison, despite assurances from Washington to the contrary.
The US judiciary wants to put Assange on trial for allegations of espionage. He faces up to 175 years in prison if convicted. He is accused of having stolen and published secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan together with whistleblower Chelsea Manning, thereby endangering the lives of US informants.
His supporters, on the other hand, see him as an investigative journalist who has brought war crimes to light and who is now to be made an example of.
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