WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Faces US Extradition Demand
Assange's Fate Hangs in the Balance
Key Points:
- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange awaits verdict on US extradition request.
- Assange faces 18 charges, mainly under the Espionage Act, related to WikiLeaks' publication of sensitive military secrets.
- The decision by the English courts on Monday will determine whether Assange will be extradited to the US for trial.
In a groundbreaking move, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to discover on Monday whether his protracted legal battle against extradition to the US has reached its conclusion. Assange, a 52-year-old Australian native, faces a trial in the US for disclosing military secrets through WikiLeaks' mass publication of classified documents.
The case stems from WikiLeaks' first leak in December 2006, followed by Assange's publication of a thought experiment outlining the organization's guiding principles in a five-page essay. Assange is now facing 18 charges, primarily under the Espionage Act, for his role in obtaining and releasing classified US government and military documents.
The decision by the English courts on Monday will have significant implications for Assange's fate and the future of whistleblower protection. If extradited to the US, Assange could face a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison. Supporters of Assange maintain that his actions were a form of journalism and whistleblower protection, while critics argue that he recklessly endangered national security.
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