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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (January 2020)
Photo:
Simon Dawson / REUTERS
Julian Assange has been in Belmarsh Security Prison in London for more than two years.
From there, the WikiLeaks founder also followed the hearing before the London High Court with interruptions. At the beginning, his lawyers initially stated that the 50-year-old did not feel he was health-wise to follow the proceedings.
A little later you could see him sitting in a small room in front of the screen via video switch, with long hair, black mask, the light shirt half tucked into his pants.
However, a decision on the extradition of Assange was not made on Wednesday.
The appeal process is due to continue this Thursday.
The US again demanded the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder.
United States attorney James Lewis argued that the British judiciary's previous decision was based on false assumptions.
In January, a London court rejected the US extradition request.
The court then referred to Assange's compromised mental health and the expected prison conditions in the United States.
The United States appealed that the court had drawn incorrect conclusions about Assange's health and suicide risk.
Assange faces 175 years imprisonment in the United States
The US attorney questioned medical reports and said: "Mr. Assange had every reason to exaggerate his symptoms." In addition, the possible detention conditions in the USA had played a role in the British decision. This is to be contested, however, as the United States has meanwhile given assurances that it will not use any "special methods" and, if necessary, also consent to Assange being transferred to a prison in his Australian homeland.
The US judiciary wants to bring the native Australian to trial on allegations of espionage.
He faces up to 175 years in prison.
The WikiLeaks founder is accused of having stolen and published secret material from US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with the whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
He put US informants in danger.
His supporters see him as an investigative journalist who brought war crimes to light.
as / dpa / AFP