Assange wants to stop extradition to the USA with an appeal. If convicted in the United States, Assange faces up to 175 years in prison.
Supporters see Assange as a journalist who brought war crimes to light and who should now be made an example of. Human rights organizations and journalists' associations around the world are campaigning for the 52-year-old's release. The Australian has been in London's Belmarsh maximum security prison since his arrest in April 2019. The US Department of Justice wants to put the Australian on trial in the USA on espionage charges.