WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, one of the world's most high-profile whistleblowers, willfight his extradition to the U.S. this week, after failing to delay the hearing on Monday.<\/p>\n
Assange is wanted inthe U.S. over the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.<\/p>\n
The hearing, at London's Old Bailey, is being heard by District Judge Vanessa Baraitser. It began in February but it was pushed back as a result of the coronavirus.<\/p>\n
The U.S.Justice Departmentissued a newindictmentin June alleging that Assange conspired with members of hacking organizations and tried to recruit hackers at conferences in Europe and Asia who could provide WikiLeaks with classified information.<\/p>\n
Assange's lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC,argued Monday that the latest indictment arrived too late for his team to review and respond to it properly.James Lewis QC will represent the U.S. authorities.<\/p>\n
Fitzgerald said he had not seen Assange face-to-face for six months, partly due to the pandemic, according to the BBC.However, a bid to rule out the new charges was unsuccessful, with Baraitser ruling they must be heard.<\/p>\n
Assange, whose health has deteriorated while being held in a U.K. prison, is wanted on 18 charges, 17 of which fall under the U.S. Espionage Act.<\/p>\n
The U.S. will specifically accuse him of conspiring with army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to decipher a password known as \"hash\" in order to access a classified U.S. Department of Defense computer and expose military secrets.<\/p>\n
Speaking from a glass box on Monday, Assange said he does not consent to extradition.<\/p>\n
If the 49-year-old Australian is extradited to the U.S., he could face a prison sentence of 175 years. His mother Christine Assange said on Twitter that he won't survive if he is extradited.<\/p>\n
Assange's supporters argue that the U.S. is targeting him for political reasons after his journalism exposed alleged war crimes and human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
The hearing is due to last four weeks. Dozens of witnesses are expected to be called to give evidence and a final verdict will be delivered at a later date.<\/p>\n
There are a limited number of seats available in the court due to social distancing measures that have been introduced in response to the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Assange supporters, including father John Shipton and fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, gathered outside the historic criminal court Monday to protest his extradition.<\/p>\n
\"Julian is a publisher and a journalist,\" Shipton said outside the court on Monday. \"It's an oppression of journalism and free press everywhere in the Western world. It can't go on, it has to stop now.\"<\/p>\n
Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary for the National Union of Journalists in the U.K. and Ireland, said in a statement: \"If this extradition is allowed, it will send a clear signal that journalists and publishers are at risk whenever their work discomforts the United States government. Media freedom the world over will take a significant backward step if Assange is forced to face these charges at the behest of a U.S. president.\"<\/p>\n
She continued: \"The U.K. government makes much of its commitment to free expression this case is its opportunity to demonstrate the substance behind those warm words.\"<\/p>\n
Assange, a father of two young children, was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in April 2019 for breaching his bail conditions and has been held at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in southeast London since.<\/p>\n
Assange's partner, Stella Moris, is one of those expected to appear in court. The South African-born lawyer told PA Media that her partner has lost a lot of weight in prison and that his health is deteriorating.<\/p>\n
\"This is an attack on journalism,\" she said. \"If he is extradited to the U.S. for publishing inconvenient truths about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then it will set a precedent, and any British journalist or publisher could also be extradited in the future.\"<\/p>\n
Moris launched a crowdfunding campaign last month to pay for Assange's legal fees. Over 100,000 ($131,000) has been pledged.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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