Julian Assange Wins Right to Petition Extradition From UK (VIDEO)
Controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has won the right to appeal his extradition to Sweden from the U.K. on sexual assault charges.
Assange stands accused of the sexual assault of a woman in Stockholm during August of last year, as well as being accused of raping another woman during the same period. District Court ruled in February that Assange should be extradited and though he fought against the claims all the way through to the High Court, the decision was upheld only last month.
His success of his appeal, however, has turned things around for Assange, at least temporarily, with the decision allowing his legal team 14 days to submit an appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court to have his case heard there.
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Wiki-leaks Founder Fights Extradition to SwedenHis legal team, lead by Mark summers, claim that the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) which was issued for him a year ago and led to his arrest in London was issued without “judicial authority.”
Although that claim was doubted by Judges, Assange has been granted the right to appeal because his case raises “a question of public importance.”
“I think is the correct decision and I am thankful,” said Assange. “The long struggle for justice for me and others continues.”
If his appeal to the Supreme Court is refused, though, Assange will have no other clear avenues open to him to prevent his extradition. Indeed, one of the High Court judges Sir John Thomas commented that Assange’s chances of victory were “extraordinarily slim,” which leaves little realistic room for optimism; though it is likely that Assange will fight on until the bitter end, regardless.
Assange, 40, is the founder of the Wikileaks website which was launched in 2006 with Assange as its Editor-in-Chief. Its position as a whistle-blowing news source has garnered much controversy in recent months. Assange goes so far as to claim that his current legal battle has been motivated by his position in Wikileaks.
