Julian Assange has been in custody in the UK since 2019. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture calls on UK government to prevent Julian Assange’s extradition to US Human rights
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Jill Edwards called on the UK government to prevent the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.
She called on British authorities to consider Assange’s appeal, based on concerns that if extradited he would face treatment amounting to torture or other forms of cruel punishment.
Edwards emphasized that Julian Assange has long suffered from a depressive disorder, and, according to experts, he is at risk of suicide.
The special rapporteur also noted that in the United States, Assange could be held in long-term isolation while awaiting trial and after sentencing, and if he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 175 years old.
Recall that in the United States, the founder of WikiLeaks faces numerous charges – including under the Espionage Act – for the alleged illegal publication of diplomatic cables and other secret documents. He has been in custody in the UK since 2019.
“The risk of being placed in prolonged solitary confinement despite his fragile mental health, and receiving a potentially disproportionate sentence raises questions about whether Assange’s extradition to the US would be compatible “with the UK’s international human rights obligations, in particular under Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights,” said the Special Rapporteur.
According to Edwards, assurances of humane treatment provided by the United States government are not a sufficient guarantee of Assange’s protection, since they are not legally binding.
The final domestic appeal against the extradition will be heard by the London High Court on February 20-21.
“I urge the United States Government “The Kingdom will carefully review Assange’s extradition order to ensure full compliance with the prohibition on expulsion and forced return to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” the UN expert said.