Julian Assange’s extradition victory offers cold comfort for press freedom
Peter Greste, who was held for more than a year in an Egyptian prison, weighs in on a UK court’s decision not to extradite Julian Assange this week. But, as he explains in this crossposting from The Conversation, the court missed an opportunity to do more to protect press freedom.
When UK District Judge Vanessa Baraitser declared she was rejecting the US request to extradite Julian Assange, his partner Stella Moris wept with relief. In an emotional speech outside the court, Moris described the ruling as “the first step towards justice”, and called on President Donald Trump to halt further extradition efforts.
According to Baraitser’s ruling, Assange could not be extradited because he was depressed and at risk of committing suicide. Assange’s lawyers are planning to apply for bail, while lawyers for the US government say they are going to appeal.
Assange
