Australia to not challenge Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s extradition by British court

A British court has ordered the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. Assange would face trial in the United States for the publication of secret files relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Australian Senator and country’s finance minister Simon Birmingham has said Australia will not challenge Assange’s extradition to the United States.

Following the court’s order, Assange’s lawyers have time until May 18 to make submissions to Britain’s interior minister Priti Patel who will be making a final decision about his extradition.

A union of 25 human rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Without Borders has challenged Assange’s extradition. They said that it poses a grave threat to press freedom both in the United States and abroad.