Julian Assange will be extradited to Sweden where he will face accusations of sexual assault, a British high court ruled today.
The WikiLeaks founder labeled the European arrest warrant system as a “rubber stamping process that comes as no surprise, that is nonetheless wrong,” while his lawyer indicated that they will appeal the ruling. If the appeal fails, Assange will be sent to Sweden by March 6.
The defense had argued that the grounds for extradition would not constitute for rape in the UK and therefore hinder extradition. However, Belmarsch Magistrate’s Court judge Howard Riddle ruled that the accusations brought forward by the two women – both former WikiLeaks volunteers – were valid for extradition and that Assange should be questioned in Sweden.
Speaking outside the court, Assange, dressed in the same blue suit he had worn to all previous hearings, renewed his objection against the charges saying that “they are simply untrue” and are part of a politically motivated smear-campaign against him.
Assange then questioned the legitimacy of the legal process he is facing:
“What does the US have to do with a Swedish extradition process?” he asked. “Why is it that I am subject, a non-profit free speech activist, to a $360,000 (£223,000) bail? Why is it that I am kept under electronic house arrest when I have not even been charged in any country, when I have never been a fugitive?
Assange also said that the court had provided no consideration against the allegations, saying that ruling thrusts him into a legal system he did not understand, using a language he does not speak.
The defense reiterated that Assange would not receive a fair trial in Sweden, where rape trials are usually held behind closed doors and public ad Assange’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, described the possibility of a secret trial as an “anathema to this country and to most civilized countries in the world.”
Assange also fears that extradition to Sweden would make it easier for Washington to extradite him to the US on possible charges relating to the disclosure of the US embassy cables.
Any further extradition would require permission from the UK, and no charges have been laid out by the US although it is investigating the WikiLeaks website.
The women assert that Assange refused to wear a condom during sex despite their insistence, while one maintains that he began having sex with her while she was asleep. Both accusers, however, also admit their relationship with Assange had initially been consensual.
Under Sweden’s strict sexual-crimes laws, Assange faces two counts of sexual molestation, one count of unlawful coercion and one count of rape.
Assange has labeled the allegations as “incredible lies” and referred to Sweden as the “Saudi Arabia of feminism”.
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