UK/US: As the appeal hearing of Julian Assange ends, PEN reiterates calls for his immediate release

23 February 2024: On 20 and 21 February 2024, Julian Assange’s legal team returned to the UK High Court in London, where a panel of two judges reviewed a 2023 High Court decision that denied Assange permission to appeal his extradition order. The outcome will determine whether Assange will have further chances to present his case in UK courts or will have exhausted all appeals in the UK, leading to the commencement of the extradition process or an application before the European Court of Human Rights. Representatives of

PEN International, English PEN and PEN Norway attended the public hearing, reiterating their call to stop the extradition of Assange.

Inside the courtroom, PEN representatives heard Assange’s legal team argue that the case against him was politically motivated and that he would face the risk of serious human rights violations if extradited to the US, echoing concerns of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. Assange’s mental and physical health has severely deteriorated as a result of being confined in Belmarsh high-security prison in London since April 2019. Although he was granted permission to attend the public hearing either in person or remotely, he was unable to do so due to ill health.

Speaking to media, PEN representatives reiterated the chilling effect and dangerous precedent Assange’s extradition would have on press freedom worldwide, and stressed how ‘espionage laws should not be used against journalists or publishers for disclosing information of public interest’.

Observing the two-day public hearing proved particularly difficult. Accreditation was only granted to a handful of MPs, media and NGO representatives following weeks of persisting requests, while observers monitoring proceedings virtually experienced severe connection issues. Although it cannot be predicted how the court will proceed, a decision is expected within the next few weeks.

PEN International, English PEN and PEN Norway once again urge the UK authorities to stop the extradition of Assange and call on the US authorities to drop the charges against him and withdraw their extradition request. The US and UK authorities must end their years-long judicial harassment of Assange and uphold instead their stated commitment to protect media freedom globally. Assange should be released from Belmarsh prison as a matter of urgency and reunited with his family. His freedom of movement upon release must be respected.

Background information

Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange was arrested in April 2019 at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had been given asylum for almost seven years. He was arrested for breaching his bail conditions in 2012 and further arrested on behalf of the US authorities under an extradition warrant for his role in obtaining and publishing classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010. In the US, Assange would face trial on 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which combined could see him imprisoned for up to 175 years.

In March 2022, the UK Supreme Court denied Assange’s request to appeal an earlier decision by the UK High Court that permitted his extradition to the US – which in turn had overturned a previous ruling by the District Court that found extradition would endanger his life. On 17 June 2022, the UK Home Secretary approved his extradition. His legal team lodged an appeal at the UK High Court. In a three-page judgment issued on 6 June 2023, the UK High Court rejected all eight grounds of Assange’s appeal against his extradition order. Assange made a renewed application for appeal to the High Court on 13 June 2023.

Julian Assange, born on 3 July 1971, is the first publisher to be charged under the US Espionage Act. On 15 November 2023, PEN Norway awarded him the 2023 Ossietzky Prize for outstanding contributions to freedom of expression.

For more information about PEN International’s work in support of Assange, including PEN International’s 2022 resolution on the abuse of the US Espionage act, and the prosecution of Assange as a threat to freedom of expression, click here.

Note to Editors

For further information, please contact Aurélia Dondo, PEN International Head of Europe and Central Asia Region: Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org

Media Availability

To schedule an interview or for comments after the hearing, please contact Sabrina Tucci, PEN International Communications and Campaigns Manager: Sabrina.Tucci@pen-international.org