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Julian Assange's Extradition to Face U.S. Espionage Charges Approved by British Court
Permission Granted for Full Appeal
LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been granted permission by the British High Court to launch a full appeal against his extradition to the United States. The court ruled Tuesday that the U.S. must give assurances that Assange, if convicted, will not be held in solitary confinement.
Assange Faces Espionage Charges
Assange, 52, is wanted in the U.S. on 18 charges, nearly all under the Espionage Act. He is accused of publishing classified information that was leaked to WikiLeaks by former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.
The charges stem from the release of thousands of classified documents by WikiLeaks in 2010 and 2011, which embarrassed the U.S. government and its allies. Assange argues that the publication of these documents was in the public interest and did not harm national security.
Final Legal Challenge
Assange's lawyers opened a final UK legal challenge on Tuesday, arguing that his extradition to the U.S. would be a violation of his human rights. They also argue that the charges against him are politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial in the U.S.
The full appeal is expected to be heard later this year. If Assange's appeal is unsuccessful, he will be extradited to the U.S. to face trial.
Conclusion
The British court's decision to grant Assange permission to appeal is a significant development in his long-running legal battle. It remains to be seen whether the full appeal will be successful, but it is a sign that Assange and his supporters have not given up hope of preventing his extradition to the U.S.
Assange's case has raised important questions about the limits of free speech and the role of whistleblowers in a democratic society. The outcome of his appeal will have implications for freedom of the press and the protection of sources around the world.
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