London: WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange on Thursday began his legal fight against being extradited to the US from the UK to face charges of allegedly leaking American government secrets. The 47-year-old, who appeared by video link at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London a day after he was sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching bail conditions, told Judge Michael Snow he did not consent to being extradited to the US.
“I do not wish to surrender myself for extradition for doing journalism that has won many awards and protected many people,” he said. The hearing marked the start of a long-drawn extradition process, with the next case management listing scheduled for May 30.
The UK court will decide whether to extradite Assange to the US in response to allegations that he conspired with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to download classified databases.”The charges relates to one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the US,” said Ben Brandon, representing the US authorities. Australian-born Assange faces up to five years in a US prison if convicted.
