New Delhi: The United Kingdom has approved the extradition of WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange to the United States.
The case went to Home Secretary Priti Patel’s table last month after the UK Supreme Court ruled Assange could be extradited on the US’ assurances about prison conditions.
The top court ruled in March that it had refused Assange permission to appeal “as the application didn’t raise an arguable point of law”.
According to The Guardian, Assange’s legal team is expected to cross appeal on the grounds of “right to freedom of expression and whether the extradition request was politically motivated”.
A Home Office spokesperson was quoted as saying: “In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange.
“Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.”
A British judge had earlier ruled that Assange should not be deported. It said the Wikileaks’ founder’s mental problems meant he could commit suicide if convicted and held in a maximum-security prison.
A US federal grand jury charged Assange in an 18-count indictment in May 2019 for “his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States”.
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