In a significant milestone in the Julian Assange extradition case, the British High Court has ruled that the United States cannot extradite the Wikileaks founder on espionage charges without providing assurances regarding his safety. The court stated that the US must assure that Assange will not face the death penalty and will receive First Amendment protections. The decision grants the US three weeks to provide these assurances or face the possibility of Assange being granted the right to appeal his extradition on these grounds.

Judge Victoria Sharp, accompanied by Judge Jeremy Johnson, emphasized that Assange, a 52-year-old Australian national, must be afforded the same First Amendment protections as a US citizen and that the death penalty cannot be imposed. The ruling dismissed six of the nine appeals lodged by Assange, including claims that his prosecution is politically motivated. The judges maintained that Assange's extradition request does not stem from his political views.

If the British court ultimately approves his extradition to the US, Assange's remaining option would be to appeal the decision at the European Court of Human Rights. During his time seeking asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, Assange had avoided extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault, which were eventually dropped.

Assange has been detained at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London since his removal from the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2019 for breaching bail conditions. His legal team expressed concerns about his deteriorating physical and mental health and called for a diplomatic solution to secure his release and return to Australia.

The charges against Assange include 17 counts under the Espionage Act, alleging he received, possessed, and communicated classified information to the public. A charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion is also included. The charges were brought by the Trump administration's Justice Department over the publication of cables leaked by U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010.

Notably, the Obama administration in 2013 chose not to indict Assange over the same publications due to potential implications for journalists from major news outlets who also published the materials. However, the Trump administration pursued the indictment, and the Biden administration has continued the prosecution.

The recent ruling by the British High Court reaffirms the importance of addressing Assange's safety and constitutional rights before any extradition takes place. The court's decision emphasizes the need for assurances from the US that Assange will not face the death penalty and will receive First Amendment protections. The case now awaits further developments, with a hearing scheduled for May 20 to determine the sufficiency of these assurances and decide whether Assange will be allowed to appeal.

The potential extradition of Assange, who maintains his innocence, remains a contentious issue, sparking concerns about press freedom and the criminalization of journalism. With further legal proceedings on the horizon, the fate of Assange's extradition rests on the assurance of his rights and protections as the case continues to unfold.