WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be extradited to the United States: British Court
''The London High Court has ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be extradited to the United States۔''
The High Court has overturned a British lower court's decision not to extradite Julian Assange to the United States because of his mental health.
The United States has assured High Court judges that it will reduce the risk of Julian Assange's suicide. Julian Assange's fiance has stated that she intends to appeal the High Court's decision.
Julian Assange is wanted by the United States for leaking thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.
Senior High Court judges have said the lower court decided not to extradite Julian Assange to the United States for fear of keeping him in intensive care.
But now US officials have assured a British court that if Julian Assange does not take further action that requires tougher sanctions, he will not face the toughest jail terms.
Chief Justice Lord Burnett said,''As far as we are concerned, the assurances that have been given have removed the threat of the toughest sanctions''.
The High Court in its judgment said that if the same bail had been given before the lower court, the answers to the relevant questions would have been different.
Julian Assange's fiance Stella Morris called the High Court's decision "dangerous and misleading." He said US assurances could not be trusted.
Stella Morris said in an emotional statement outside the court: "Julian has been in Belmarsh prison for two and a half years. In fact, he has been in custody since December 7, 2010. How long can this last? "
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kirsten Haraffinson said in a statement: "Julian's life is in grave danger again. And that's the threat to the rights of journalists who don't like governments and corporations. "
According to the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, this is a matter of freedom of expression where the press can carry out its duties free from the threats and pressure of the superpower.
Julian Assange's team is considering challenging the High Court decision in two different ways. Julian Assange's team is set to challenge a court ruling in January last year that made the disclosure of classified information a crime.''But it is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post''.
The second possibility is that they will challenge the decision of the High Court in the Supreme Court but there is no guarantee that the Supreme Court will hear it. Julian Assange's lawyers will have to tell the Supreme Court judges what law they have a problem with. This has never happened before and time seems to be running out for Julian Assange.
US guarantees
The United States has assured the London High Court that Julian Assange will not be held in solitary confinement in Colorado's intensive care unit, Florence Supermax, before and after the trial.
US government lawyers have said that if Julian Assange is sentenced to prison, he will be allowed to move to a prison near his home.
Julian Assange's lawyers say the US assurances are meaningless and vague.
How much punishment can Julian Assange get?
Lawyers say Julian Assange, 50, could face up to 175 years in prison if convicted by a US court. However, the US government has said that Julian Assange is likely to be sentenced to four to six years in prison.
Julian Assange has been charged with 18 counts in the United States. The allegations include hacking US military databases, accessing and leaking classified information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S.A. prosecutors say Julian Assange posed a threat to human life by leaking classified information.
Julian Assange's position is that he has only exposed the excesses of the US military.
Julian Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years.
After leaving the Ecuadorian embassy, he was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for failing to comply with bail. Julian Assange is in custody for extradition to the United States.