Assange wins the right to challenge extradition

WikiLeaks founder ­Julian Assange has won the right to ask the UK Supreme Court to block his extradition to the US.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2017. Picture: AFP

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has won a court challenge and will be able to appeal to the Supreme Court to block his extradition to the US.

At the very least, the latest legal machinations mean Assange’s extradition to the US to face 18 espionage charges will be delayed by many months.

On Monday, the High court refused Assange permission for a direct appeal, but said the Supreme Court would now determine if it would hear Assange’s challenge.

The point of law in contention, considered to be of general public importance, is whether the High Court should have accepted assurances from the US government about the treatment Assange would face during his trial and any sentencing, including a pledge to allow him to serve any time in Australia.

The US had only given the assurances after the Westminster Magistrates Court had initially rejected the extradition, fearing that Assange would commit suicide because of oppressive conditions in the US jails.

Assange’s fiancee Stella Moris said the latest ruling was a victory for Assange.

“The situation now is that the Supreme Court has to decide whether it will hear the appeal but, make no mistake, we won today in court,” she said.

“But let’s not forget that every time we win, as long as this case isn’t dropped, as long as Julian isn’t freed, Julian continues to suffer. For almost three years he has been in Belmarsh prison and he is suffering profoundly, day after day, week after week, year after year. Julian has to be freed and we hope that this will soon end.

“But we are far from achieving justice in this case because Julian has been incarcerated for so long and he should not have spent a single day in prison.”