Julian Assange — © AP
A British court has closed hearings on the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange after two days. The judges did not immediately rule. This means that the 52-year-old activist may only receive clarity about what awaits him in a few weeks.
The case revolves around the question of whether Assange can continue the legal battle against his extradition. British authorities want to transfer him to the United States, where he will be prosecuted for the publication of confidential government documents. Lawyers for Assange and the US government spoke during the hearings. The activist himself was not present. Assange’s supporters did gather at the court in London.
Assange has been trying for years to stay out of American hands. He spent about seven years in hiding in Ecuador’s British embassy until his arrest in 2019, after which he ended up in prison. If Assange loses this case, he could be extradited within weeks. The BBC reports that the judges are not expected to rule on this before mid-March.