Current location:Stellar Space news portal > world
Hundreds gather in London to protest against Assange's U.S. extradition
Stellar Space news portal2024-05-21 22:03:52【world】1People have gathered around
IntroductionSupporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
LONDON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people gathered in front of the British Home Office on Tuesday to protest against the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, denouncing it as politically motivated and a grave threat to freedom of press.
After Assange waged several rounds of appeal battle spanning months, Britain's Westminster Magistrate's Court issued a formal order in April to extradite him to the United States to face espionage charges.
The case is now at the hands of British Home Secretary Priti Patel, who will decide whether to approve the extradition. Assange's legal team can make submissions before Wednesday to Patel explaining why Assange shouldn't be extradited.
On Tuesday, Assange's wife Stella Assange said on Twitter that a representation had been filed to Patel to block his extradition to the United States.
Assange, 50, is wanted in the United States on allegations of disclosing national defense information following WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked military documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars a decade ago, which included an Apache helicopter video footage documenting the U.S. military gunning down Reuters journalists and children in Baghdad's streets in 2007.
"It's very clear that the case is politically motivated because the American authorities are using the espionage act to attempt extradition. And the espionage act has been historically used to suppress American dissidents," Lano Nika, a protester, told Xinhua.
"This case is critical not only for media freedom, but also for institution accountability and personal freedoms," she added.
"We know that media freedom has been eroding and in a precarious state. It is not in a good condition in our Western part of the world and that needs to be turned around. This case illustrates the fragility of media freedom," Kristinn Hrafnsson, editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, told Xinhua.
He said that his team will keep on fighting if Patel signs the extradition, as there're other legal avenues for appeal, including taking this case up to the European Court of Human Rights.
"There are legal avenues but it will take time and enough is enough. He has spent too much time deprived of his liberty and the opportunity to spend time with his wife and his children," he said, noting that Assange's health has been deteriorating after long incarceration.
Assange has been held at south London's high-security Belmarsh Prison since 2019. He married his long-term partner Stella Moris, a lawyer, in the prison in March.
Lawyers for the United States said earlier that Assange would be allowed to transfer to Australia, his home country, to serve any prison sentence he may be given. ■
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Julian Assange's wife Stella Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Julian Assange's wife Stella Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Supporters of Julian Assange are seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
A supporter of Julian Assange is seen in front of the British Home Office in London, Britain, May 17, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
Address of this article:http://bangladesh.fidosfortywinks.com/article-45c199924.html
Very good!(956)
Related articles
- Key evidence in the 'burking' murder trial was 'hidden' from defence lawyers
- Attendance action plan includes daily data, traffic light system
- Chiefs crush Moana 68
- Princess of Wales: Agencies recall first image of Kate since surgery
- Trump or Biden? Either way, US seems poised to preserve heavy tariffs on imports
- Judge agrees to reduce Trump fraud bond
- Judge orders Ohtani's ex
- British Army to remove claim Princess of Wales will attend event
- Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
- Princess of Wales Kate having chemotherapy after cancer discovery
Popular articles
- Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
- World Court orders Israel to halt Gaza famine; Hamas says ceasefire needed
- 'Rust' armorer called 'sloppy,' defense says she's a scapegoat
- Government's transport plan costly to society and climate, 88 academics warn
Recommended
France is trying Syrian ex
Harris blames Trump for abortion ban in Arizona
Christopher Luxon defends use of taxpayer funds for Auckland
Ministry for the Environment asks for voluntary redundancies
The 13 style rules that every midlife woman MUST follow (and yes, beige really is banned!)
Man arrested after alleged stabbing in Papamoa, Bay of Plenty
The ancient Roman alternative to daylight savings time
Companies 'not interested' in public
Links
- Lawyer for former top lawmaker in Michigan House expects he will be charged
- Girls Aloud poke fun at iconic clip where Cheryl insisted they would NEVER get back together
- China's Tiandu satellites conduct Earth
- U.S. 'world leadership' in the red
- Mideast countries call for restraint after Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel
- China ready to work with neighboring countries to expand convergence of interests: spokesperson
- Company believes it found sunken barge in Ohio River near Pittsburgh, one of 26 that got loose
- China exercises veto power in UN Security Council to uphold international justice: envoy
- Early voting for S. Korea's parliamentary elections kicks off
- Courtney Love is hit by angry backlash from Taylor Swift fans after branding singer 'unimportant'