Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

US submits 'weasel word' assurances to ensure Assange is extradited

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 17 Apr 2024 09:06
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The United States has provided the High Court in London with assurances that could prevent Assange from continuing his legal pursuit, resulting in his extradition.

  • x
  • A Protester stands in front of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Thursday, April 11, 2024, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested five years ago (AP)
    A protester stands in front of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, Thursday, April 11, 2024, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested five years ago. (AP)

The United States submitted assurances to the London High Court in its latest attempt to prevent Julian Assange from obtaining his right to appeal against extradition, a move dismissed by Assange's wife, who dubbed the documents as mere "weasel words". 

In late March, Assange was given the chance to fight against extradition only if the US was not able to provide additional "satisfactory assurances" regarding the WikiLeaks founder's ability to invoke the protections of the First Amendment of the US Constitution and his potential exposure to the death penalty. 

According to The Guardian, this includes assurances “that the applicant [Assange] is permitted to rely on the first amendment, that the applicant is not prejudiced at trial, including sentence, by reason of his nationality, that he is afforded the same first amendment [free speech] protections as a United States citizen, and that the death penalty is not imposed."

In this context, the US assurances stated that Assange is not being prosecuted because of nationality, that he can seek the First Amendment but only under the authority of US courts, and that the death penalty would not be sought by the US or imposed on Assange. 

If the London court found the assurances sufficient, then Assange would have no choice but to be extradited to the US. Then, his only hope would be reliance on human rights organization's intervention. 

Assange's wife, Stella, responded to the US' latest move, slamming the country's act as "weasel words" disguised in diplomatic endeavors. 

In a post on X, she said: "It makes no undertaking to withdraw the prosecution's previous assertion that Julian has no First Amendment rights because he is not a U.S citizen. Instead, the US has limited itself to blatant weasel words claiming that Julian can "seek to raise" the First Amendment if extradited."

Related News

Trump approves Patriot missiles to Ukraine, bills EU for costs

Russia slams US-Denmark military pact as threat to its security

"The diplomatic note does nothing to relieve our family's extreme distress about his future -- his grim expectation of spending the rest of his life in isolation in US prison for publishing award-winning journalism," she added, calling on the Biden administration to drop its act and revoke its pursuit. 

The integrity and worth of the assurances will be examined in the next scheduled hearing on May 20. However, Assange's legal team found that US assurances in similar cases were nothing but useless. 

The weasel words in question: https://t.co/JzlcI8Srci pic.twitter.com/8apz5nCoab

— Stella Assange #FreeAssangeNOW (@Stella_Assange) April 16, 2024

Australia defends its national

Last week, US President Joe Biden revealed that he is considering a request from Australia to halt the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as reported by the White House press pool.

"We're considering it," Biden responded to inquiries regarding Australia's plea to cease the US government's pursuit of Assange.

This came after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was time that Assange "was brought home," as the Australian citizen faces his last chance in the UK to prevent his extradition to the United States.

Talking to ABC Radio, Albanese pointed out that he addressed the issue at the "highest levels" with Washington and the UK.

"I have put the view very clearly, privately, as I have publicly, that enough is enough. It's time Julian Assange was brought home. I've engaged with his legal team on a regular basis as well, on a strategy to try to get through this and come out the other side in Mr. Assange's interest," the Prime Minister said during the interview.

Read more: Julian Assange's prosecution threatens global media freedom: IEJ, EFJ

  • United States
  • London
  • Australia
  • Julian Assange extradition
  • Anthony Albanese
  • Julian Assange

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS