UK Govt Approves Extradition of Assange; He Plans to Appeal
SnopesJan 02, 2022
The Facts
British Home Sec. Priti Patel on Fri. approved the US' request to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. His legal team now has 14 days to file an appeal, which they are expected to.
This comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled in Mar. that the extradition could go through, with it being formally referred to Patel in April. A district judge had previously blocked the efforts in Jan. 2021, stating that Assange's deteriorating mental health – combined with the US prison conditions he would be held under – would create a "substantial" risk of suicide.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Assange is no journalist. As demonstrated by his publishing of hacked Democratic Party emails in 2016, his actions are closer to that of a spy than a publisher. His publishing of classified military materials put the lives of thousands US soldiers at risk. He should be extradited and face justice for his actions.
Establishment-critical narrative
In publishing files from Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay, Assange revealed numerous instances of war crimes and human rights violations perpetrated by the US. In seeking his prosecution, the country is trying to criminalize the truthful publication of information rather than go after the perpetrators of real human rights violations. This is a grave threat to press freedoms and ought to be opposed at all costs.
Metaculus Prediction
Establishment split
CRITICAL
PRO
More neutral establishment stance articles
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