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Protesters have gathered outside the High Court in London in assist of Julian Assange as the WikiLeaks founder began his last-ditch bid to keep away from extradition to the US.
Among these outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday morning have been former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn and Mr Assange’s wife, Stella, who advised a crowd: “They just cannot get away with this”.
The 52-year-old is making a last-ditch enchantment on the two-day listening to towards being to the US, the place he faces costs for conspiracy to get hold of and disclose nationwide defence info after the publication of intelligence information on WikiLeaks.
US authorities have been profitable in overturning a UK decide’s ruling in 2021 stopping Assange from being despatched over a threat of suicide – leaving this week’s listening to as the ultimate probability within the UK appeals course of to halt extradition.
Protesters chant in assist of Julian Assange forward of his enchantment listening to on the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday
(AP)
Assange has been held at Belmarsh Prison since his arrest contained in the Ecuadorian embassy in 2019 after the US indictment towards him was unsealed. He had stayed on the embassy in London as he sought asylum to keep away from extradition to Sweden on a rape allegation which was later dropped.
If the Australian fails in his bid for an enchantment this week, his authorized crew has mentioned it is going to lodge an enchantment on the European Court of Human Rights.
Julian Assange pictured in 2017 on the Ecuadorian embassy earlier than his arrest and transfer to Belmarsh jail in 2019
(AP)
Outside the courtroom on Tuesday morning earlier than the listening to kicked off at 10.30am, protesters gathered with banners studying “free Julian Assange”. Golden ribbons have been additionally tied to the primary fence and the encircling gates and timber.
On a stage, his wife Ms Assange thanked the supporters and mentioned: “Please keep on showing up, be there for Julian and for us, until Julian is free.”
Stella Assange tells the group “they just cannot get away with this” earlier than the courtroom listening to on Tuesday
(AP)
She added: “We have two big days ahead, We don’t know what to expect, but you’re here because the world is watching. They just cannot get away with this. Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth.”
Also talking was former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn. He mentioned: “He [Assange] was telling the truth about what was going on around the world. He was telling the truth about the US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was also telling the truth about corporate greed and corruption.”
Jeremy Corbyn spoke in assist of Assange forward of the listening to
(Getty Images)
Labour MP for Coventry South Zarah Sultana mentioned: “We know Julian is being targeted for exposing US war crimes. This isn’t just an attack on Julian, this is an attack on journalism, on the free press.”
Supporters of Assange say he faces 175 years in jail if extradited to the US. But within the US, authorities say the 2021 choice to cease him being despatched to the US on the danger of suicide would offer a “trump card” for anybody else.
For updates on the courtroom case, observe our rolling protection at The Independent.
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