WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been given the right to appeal against his extradition to the US on espionage charges.
The High Court in London ruled on Monday that the Australian publisher can appeal against his extradition from Britain to the US, extending Assange’s already lengthy legal battle.
In March, the High Court had granted Assange a temporary reprieve, giving the US government three weeks to provide “satisfactory assurances” that he would receive a fair trial, enjoy his First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and not face the death penalty.
But the court’s ruling on Monday will further delay Assange’s deportation and means his legal status will remain in dispute. The legal arguments on Monday focussed on whether Assange would be entitled to Article 1 protection.
Assange is wanted on 17 charges, including violating the US Espionage Act, obtaining classified military documents and conspiring to hack into the Pentagon computer network. If convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison.
