Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has filed an appeal with the London High Court to prevent his extradition to the United States to face criminal charges, according to his brother on Friday. This is the latest development in his protracted legal battle that has lasted more than ten years.
Assange, 50, is sought by US authorities on 18 counts, including one of espionage, in connection with WikiLeaks’ publication of sizable quantities of classified US diplomatic cables and military records, which Washington claimed had endangered lives.
Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition last month, citing British courts’ findings that it would not violate his human rights and that he would receive appropriate treatment.
According to his brother Gabriel Shipton, the legal team representing the Australian-born Assange has filed an appeal with the High Court challenging that judgment. The appeal must be approved by the court in order to be heard, but it’s likely that it will take months to resolve the legal matter.
“We also call on the Australian government to get involved right away to put an end to this nightmare.
