Julian Assange has been granted permission to appeal his extradition to the USA.

Partial Victory for Julian Assange Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been granted permission to appeal his extradition to the USA. The London High Court partially granted the Australian's appeal on Monday, temporarily halting his immediate transfer to the USA. Assange's legal team successfully argued during a nearly two-hour hearing that he should be allowed to present his case in a full appeal process. The primary issue at stake is whether Assange, as a foreign citizen, can invoke the right to freedom of expression in the USA. The judges postponed their decision at the end of March, seeking assurances from the USA, which initially failed to convince the court. Facing Severe Charges The US government seeks to prosecute Assange on espionage charges, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 175 years. He is accused of collaborating with whistleblower Chelsea Manning to steal and publish secret military documents related to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, allegedly endangering the lives of US informants. Assange's supporters, however, view him as a target of the US justice system for exposing war crimes. Assange's wife, Stella, had voiced fears that if his appeal was rejected, he could be immediately extradited to the USA, potentially leading him to take his own life. Hope for a Political Solution While the appeal process moves forward, Assange's supporters are also hoping for a political resolution. The Australian government is actively advocating for his release, with the Australian Parliament recently passing a resolution urging the US and UK to cease their prosecution of Assange. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stressed that the case has dragged on for far too long. Julian Assange has thus achieved a significant milestone in his legal battle, with the High Court allowing him to appeal against his extradition to the USA.