Legal professionals for WikiLeaks writer Julian Assange have filed an attraction in opposition to his extradition to the US, because the UN human rights chief lends help to the Australian’s trigger.
Mr Assange, 51, has been indicted on 17 espionage prices within the US and one cost of pc misuse over WikiLeaks’ publication of 1000’s of army and diplomatic paperwork leaked by whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
The fees carry a most sentence of 175 years in jail.
WikiLeaks says Mr Assange’s authorized crew filed “Perfected Grounds of Enchantment” within the UK’s Excessive Court docket in opposition to the US and UK Dwelling Secretary Priti Patel, who accepted his extradition in June.
Mr Assange’s legal professionals argue he’s “being prosecuted and punished for his political beliefs”. His spouse says the prosecution is illegal.
“Overwhelming proof has emerged proving that the US prosecution in opposition to my husband is a felony abuse,” Stella Assange stated on Twitter on Saturday.
“The Excessive Court docket judges will now resolve whether or not Julian is given the chance to place the case in opposition to the US earlier than open court docket, and in full, on the attraction.”
Mr Assange stays in London’s Belmarsh jail, the place he has been in detention since April 2019.
A UK choose blocked his extradition final yr, however the US authorities efficiently appealed within the Excessive Court docket.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has beforehand said “sufficient is sufficient” concerning Mr Assange’s ongoing detention.
The attraction comes after UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet met with Mr Assange’s legal professionals and his spouse in Geneva.
Advocacy group The Assange Protection Committee advised AAP they detailed to her his deteriorating well being, with the Australian writer struggling a mini-stroke lately.
