Court lets Assange continue extradition battle
Source: Agencies |
December 6, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A BRITISH court yesterday gave WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange permission to continue his legal battle to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex crimes allegations.
The decision means Assange does not face immediate deportation. British judges said Assange could apply to the Supreme Court to hear one specific point of his legal case - but there is no guarantee that the higher court will accept his request.
Assange's lawyers had argued that every European arrest warrant issued by police or prosecutors was flawed, because neither should be considered a judicial authority.
Judges at the High Court in London did not indicate whether they agreed with the argument, but said Assange's legal team should have the chance to ask the Supreme Court to grant them a hearing.
Assange seemed pleased by the ruling. Asked if it was a victory, he said yes. He has 14 days to submit a written request to the Supreme Court, Assange's lawyer Gareth Peirce said.
Assange's Swedish lawyers hailed the decision. "This is positive news for Julian Assange and means he will remain in the UK while the court assesses his appeal," Per E Samuelsson said.
Claes Borgstrom, the lawyer representing two women bringing sex crime charges against Assange, called the decision regrettable.
"My clients have waited for over a year for a legal conclusion of this and now they will have to wait even longer," Borgstrom said. "Then it will still end with Assange being transferred to Sweden."
He said the two women had hoped that the last word would be said in the extradition case yesterday. "We are hardened by now, but of course this is still stressful," he said.
Assange was accused of rape, coercion and molestation after encounters with two Swedish women in August 2010. Swedish authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant on rape and molestation accusations, and Assange was arrested in London in December. He was released on bail.
His supporters gathered outside the court. One banner read "Free Assange. Free Manning," referring to US Army analyst Bradley Manning, in custody suspected of disclosing intelligence to WikiLeaks.
The decision means Assange does not face immediate deportation. British judges said Assange could apply to the Supreme Court to hear one specific point of his legal case - but there is no guarantee that the higher court will accept his request.
Assange's lawyers had argued that every European arrest warrant issued by police or prosecutors was flawed, because neither should be considered a judicial authority.
Judges at the High Court in London did not indicate whether they agreed with the argument, but said Assange's legal team should have the chance to ask the Supreme Court to grant them a hearing.
Assange seemed pleased by the ruling. Asked if it was a victory, he said yes. He has 14 days to submit a written request to the Supreme Court, Assange's lawyer Gareth Peirce said.
Assange's Swedish lawyers hailed the decision. "This is positive news for Julian Assange and means he will remain in the UK while the court assesses his appeal," Per E Samuelsson said.
Claes Borgstrom, the lawyer representing two women bringing sex crime charges against Assange, called the decision regrettable.
"My clients have waited for over a year for a legal conclusion of this and now they will have to wait even longer," Borgstrom said. "Then it will still end with Assange being transferred to Sweden."
He said the two women had hoped that the last word would be said in the extradition case yesterday. "We are hardened by now, but of course this is still stressful," he said.
Assange was accused of rape, coercion and molestation after encounters with two Swedish women in August 2010. Swedish authorities issued a European Arrest Warrant on rape and molestation accusations, and Assange was arrested in London in December. He was released on bail.
His supporters gathered outside the court. One banner read "Free Assange. Free Manning," referring to US Army analyst Bradley Manning, in custody suspected of disclosing intelligence to WikiLeaks.
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