Julian Assange extradition to US approved by UK court

WikiLeaks founder may face 175 years in jail

UN warns lives were put at risk by publication of classified documents

GENEVA, 8 December 2020 – A UK court has approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, where he is wanted over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified documents. Assange's supporters say he could face 175 years in jail if extradited.

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, has warned that Assange's extradition would put his life at risk. Melzer said that Assange has been subjected to "prolonged, arbitrary detention, isolation, psychological torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" while in prison in the UK.

Assange's website, WikiLeaks, has published many confidential or restricted official reports related to war and spying. The US government has accused Assange of putting lives at risk by releasing these documents.

Assange has been fighting for more than a decade to avoid extradition to the US. He has argued that he is a journalist and that his work is protected by freedom of speech laws.

The UK court's decision to approve Assange's extradition is a major victory for the US government. It is unclear when Assange will be extradited, but he is expected to appeal the decision.