Current location:Global Gateway news portal > opinions
Hundreds gather in London to protest against Assange's U.S. extradition
Global Gateway news portal2024-05-21 18:12:30【opinions】3People 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://ukraine.camilleandconfettis.com/html-90d199824.html
Very good!(9)
Related articles
- Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia
- Scenery of Mount Emei in SW China's Sichuan Province
- Xi Holds Talks with Eritrean President
- Xi Replies to Letter from Central Asian Students at China University of Petroleum
- Candice Swanepoel stuns in a form
- Xinhua Commentary: Major Powers Should Work with China for Political Settlement of Ukraine Crisis
- How Will Xi's Visit to Xiong'an Reshape the Future of the Futuristic City?
- Scenic spots in ice cream competition to attract tourists
- I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
- China’s first national botanical garden to take shape in Beijing
Popular articles
Recommended
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
Forest Law builds legal protection for ecology
People enjoy leisure time during National Day holiday across China
E China's Jinzhai County promotes industrial integration, agro
Dodgers acquire pitcher Yohan Ramírez from Mets for cash
China, Central Asia Ready for Milestone Summit to Build Closer Ties
Rural scenery in China's Gansu
Scenic spots in ice cream competition to attract tourists
Links
- Fox within sight of lead at US Masters midway point
- Government 'looking at' mining on DOC lands
- EDITORIAL: Here we go again; another pledge by LDP to reform itself
- Movement of pilot's seat a focus of probe into LATAM Boeing flight, report says
- Houthis say they fired at two ships in Red Sea, damaging both
- Paul McCartney's stolen Beatles bass guitar found after 51 years
- London police say chemical attacker presumed dead
- More than 100 killed while seeking aid in Gaza, overall death toll passes 30,000
- Person seriously injured, another dead after Browns Bay assault
- Labour defends roadside drug testing legislation