UK court approves extradition of Julian Assange to US

A court has formally approved the extradition of Julian Assange to the US on espionage charges, in what will ultimately be a decision for the UK home secretary, Priti Patel.

The Wikileaks co-founder, who has the right of appeal, appeared by videolink during the Westminster magistrates court hearing, which one of his barristers described as a “brief but significant moment in the case”.

Mark Summers QC, for Assange, told the chief magistrate that he had no option but to send the case to the home secretary. It was not open, at this point, for Assange’s team to raise fresh evidence but there had been “fresh developments”, he added.

Advertisement Summers said “serious submissions” would be made to the home secretary regarding “sentencing and other matters”.

The brief hearing was taking place after the supreme court last month refused Assange’s appeal against his extradition.

He had sought to challenge a judgment by the high court in December that ruled he could be extradited after assurances from the US authorities with regard to his prison conditions there.

An extradition order was issued by the chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, during the seven-minute hearing. Goldspring told Assange: “In layman’s terms, I am duty bound to send your case to the secretary of state for a decision.” As well as being able to make submissions to Patel, Assange’s lawyers can also access other routes to fight his extradition.

This could include mounting a challenge on other issues of law raised at first instance on which he lost and have not yet been subject to appeal.

Assange, wearing a jacket and tie, appeared via a video link from Belmarsh prison, where he was married last month to his partner, Stella Moris, and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Moris was in the public gallery at Westminster magistrates court, where a large crowd of supporters gathered outside, including the former Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn said he hoped the home secretary would recognise her “huge responsibility” to stand up for free speech, journalism and democracy and release Assange.

“He has done no more than tell the world about military planning, military policies and the horrors of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and I think he deserves to be thanked,” he told reporters.