<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1655458657257,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4febcc790000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1655458657257,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4febcc790000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_55458516", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"813761"} }); ","_id":"00000181-7106-ddb6-a5eb-79376aef0000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedThe United Kingdom approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, where he faces espionage charges.
British Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the order to extradite the WikiLeaks founder on Friday. A British court had approved Assange’s extradition to the U.S. in April.
UK COURT APPROVES EXTRADITION OF JULIAN ASSANGE TO US
“This is a dark day for Press freedom and for British democracy,” WikiLeaks said in a statement on Twitter.
“Anyone in this country who cares about freedom of expression should be deeply ashamed that the Home Secretary has approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States, the country that plotted his assassination,” the group added.
https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1537726323858219009?s=20&t=qsXir7xyg-RVrXglBaKXDg
WikiLeaks said the decision will be appealed.
“Today is not the end of the fight,” it said. “It is only the beginning of a new legal battle. We will appeal through the legal system, the next appeal will be before the High Court.”
Assange, an Australian national, is being held at Belmarsh Prison in London.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
He was arrested on rape charges by British authorities in April 2019, after spending nearly seven years inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, claiming political asylum. The rape charges were eventually dropped, but the Justice Department requested in June 2019 that Britain extradite Assange to the U.S.
Assange, 50, is wanted by the U.S. government on charges of leaking national defense information related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
