Julian Assange's wife has arrived at the Supreme Court as her husband begins his two-day legal battle against extradition to the US.
The WikiLeaks founder is wanted in America for an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information following the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Assange, 52, faces up to 175 years in prison for espionage – meaning if he were extradited and convicted in the US, he would likely die behind bars.
Ahead of the first day of Assange's appeal hearing, dozens of protesters gathered outside London's Royal Courts of Justice – the Wikileaks founder's wife Stella thanked the crowd in a passionate speech.
Activists were seen waving Australian flags, holding up placards with the words “Free Julian Assange” and “Drop the charges” and chanting: “There is only one decision – no extradition” and “US, UK, hands off Assange.” .
Assange's wife Stella joins supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange outside the Royal Courts of Justice
The Wikileaks founder appears in court for a two-day hearing that will determine whether he will be extradited to the US
Hundreds of people gathered outside the court to show their support for the Wikileaks founder
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gestures from the window of a prison van as he is evicted from Southwark Crown Court in London on May 1, 2019
The support comes just days after Assange's wife warned that her husband will “die” if he loses his appeal and is extradited to the US.
“The situation is extremely serious. He could be on a plane within a few days,” Stella said, adding: “His health is deteriorating, both mentally and physically. “His life is in danger every day in prison and if he is extradited he will die.”
Ms Assange spoke to protesters outside the court today. Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn also took the stand to support her husband.
“We have two big days ahead of us.” “We don't know what to expect, but you are here because the world is watching,” she told the crowd. “They need to know that they can't get away with this. Julian needs his freedom and we all need the truth.”
She thanked the protesters and added: “Please keep coming, be there for Julian and us until Julian is free.”
Assange's legal battles began in 2010 and he subsequently spent seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London before being dragged out and jailed in 2019 for breaching bail conditions. Since then he has been in a maximum security prison in southeast London and even got married there.
Assange, 52, faces up to 175 years in prison for espionage – meaning if he were extradited and convicted, he would likely die behind bars.
Protesters from Australia took part in the demonstration outside the London Court on Tuesday
Ms Assange spoke to protesters outside the court after earlier warning that her husband would “die” if extradited to the US
Julian Assange, who faces espionage charges and up to 175 years in prison, pictured with his wife Stella
Britain finally approved his extradition to the US in 2022 after a judge initially blocked it because concerns about his mental health meant he would be at risk of suicide if deported.
His lawyers will try to overturn that approval in a two-day hearing before two judges. This could be his last chance to avoid extradition in the English courts.
They will argue that Assange's prosecution is politically motivated and represents an attack on free speech because it is the first time a publisher has been charged under the US Espionage Act.
At the start of Tuesday's hearing, two judges were told that Assange was being prosecuted for an “ordinary journalistic practice.”
Edward Fitzgerald KC, Assange's deputy chairman, said: “He is charged with the usual journalistic practice of obtaining and publishing classified information, information that is both true and of obvious and important public interest.”
The lawyer said at the beginning of the hearing that the Wikileaks founder was not attending the hearing because he was not feeling well.
John Shipton, father of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, arrives at the High Court in London
Activists showing their support gathered by the dozens outside the courthouse with placards
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court today to support Julian Assange
Julian Assange's father John Shipton outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of a two-day hearing in his son's extradition case
Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those speaking outside court on Tuesday
Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton and his father John Shipton were also seen outside the court ahead of today's hearing, where Gabriel spoke to protesters.
Other activists traveled from around the world to show their support. Jodie Asard flew from Adelaide, Australia with her son to support Assange's appeal.
Ms Asard said: “We have come from Australia to stand with our brothers and sisters here, to represent Australia and to ensure that the Australian Government knows that 88 per cent of Australians want Julian Assange released and brought home .”
“It's probably the test of the century, to be honest, when it comes to free speech, free press and our right to information. That's why I'm here to stand with Julian and all these people here and to demand that he be completely safe and released.'
Ms Asard added that the way Assange was held in a “three by two meter cell” at Belmarsh prison was “criminal”.
“It is, in my opinion, being institutionally abused by our Western governments,” she added.
A speaker on a stage outside the courthouse welcomed protesters to the “most important free speech case of the 21st century.”
He was greeted with cheers and claps from the crowd of protesters.
Tim Dawson, deputy general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, then took the stage.
He said: “Make no mistake, if this prosecution is successful, other important cases will never come to light.”
Stella Assange is surrounded by demonstrators before her husband's trial in London
Apsana Begum MP (left) speaks about the protest outside the Supreme Court. Andrew Feinstein (right), a former member of the South African National Assembly, also spoke to the demonstrators
Dozens of protesters carrying placards and gold ribbons marched to the Royal Courts of Justice
A group of Assange supporters hold up posters calling for his release outside the court on Tuesday morning
One of a supporter's posters is pictured outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning
On a stage, Ms Assange (centre) thanked the protesters and said: “Please keep coming, be there for Julian and us until Julian is free.”
“Free Julian Assange, support journalism and protect free expression,” he finished to applause and cheers from the audience.
Protesters chanted “Britain, USA, shame on you” as MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana Begum, took the stage outside the Royal Courts of Justice.
“This case is about people and their power, as opposed to the state and its imperialism,” she said.
“Ultimately it’s about seeking justice in an all too often unjust world.” “Solidarity,” Ms. Begum finished.
Craig Murray, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, said that if Assange's appeal were not granted it would be an “attack on the freedom to know, an attack on the rights of every single person here and every single person around the world.”
“I have lost all faith in the independence of the justice system,” Murray said.
During a briefing with reporters last week ahead of her husband's appeal, Ms Assange said the case was “politically motivated” and violated the UK-US extradition treaty, which bans extradition for political reasons.
Activists were seen waving Australian flags and holding placards with the words “Free Julian Assange” and “Drop the charges.”
Ahead of Assange's two-day hearing, activists hold up their posters in front of the courthouse
Activists were seen waving Australian flags and holding placards with the words “Free Julian Assange” and “Drop the charges.”
She said the “false extradition request” would have been rejected by British authorities if it had been made by a country other than the US, adding that she had learned not to be “optimistic” about his case.
“Julian should not have been sent to prison in the first place,” she added.
The couple have two children together and married in March 2022 in Belmarsh.
Ms Assange, who cried during the briefing, said her husband was “isolated” in prison and was spending more than 22 hours a day in detention.
“I'm very worried about how he's doing.” “Physically, he's aging prematurely,” she added.
“Julian will be put in a hole when he's extradited, there's no doubt about it. 'He'll be put in a hole so far and deep in the earth that I don't think I'll ever see him again.'
Ms Assange said: “The situation is extremely serious.” He could be on a plane within days.
If his appeal is unsuccessful, Ms Assange said her husband would apply to the European Court of Human Rights for a Rule 39 order to stop the extradition while it considers his case.
Assange's campaign against extradition is supported by human rights and journalism organizations around the world.
At the Royal Over-Seas League briefing, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said the extradition would set a precedent that would have “dark and serious implications for press freedom around the world.”
The Icelandic investigative journalist said: “We are witnessing a critical attack on press freedom worldwide.” It is like a disease – an anti-press pandemic that is creeping up on us and taking more shape as the years go by.
“And in that sense, Julian Assange was a canary in the coal mine.”
Rebecca Vincent, campaigns director at Reporters Without Borders, said there had been a lot of “unhelpful noise” and “misunderstandings” surrounding the case.
She said: “We defend Julian Assange for his contributions to journalism.”
“We believe this case has many implications for journalism and press freedom around the world.”
Ms Vincent said the US espionage law lacked a “public interest defense” and could be applied to “anyone who publishes stories based on leaked documents”.
Stella Assange with Wikileaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson
Assange is wanted in the US for an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information following the publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He denies any wrongdoing.
In a January 2021 ruling, then-district judge Vanessa Baraitser said he should not be sent to the United States because there was a real and “oppressive” risk of suicide, while ruling against him on all other issues.
The US authorities successfully appealed this decision to the Supreme Court, paving the way for extradition.
In June last year, Assange lost his appeal against a judge's decision to extradite him, but made his final appeal to the Supreme Court this week.