03:58Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid on Tuesday in support of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, following the commencement of the extradition hearing.
Footage features protesters rallying, chanting, and holding banners and placards reading 'Free Assange',' I am Julian Assange', 'Hands off Assange' and 'Freedom for Assange'.
"Now that his own life is in uncertainty right now, because if they take him to the United States and he is in poor health, they are going to finish him off," said Leo Bassi, an Italian jeste and activist.
Olatz Cacho, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, stated that the organisation contends the charges against Assange lack merit.
Pro-Assange rallies were held in various cities all around the world, amid fears of potential extradition.
The trial marks the first day of a two-day hearing scheduled for February 20-21. Assange faces 18 charges from US authorities following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Last year, a High Court judge ruled that Assange had no legal grounds to challenge his extradition, which was approved in 2022 by then-home secretary Priti Patel.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being arrested in April 2019 after being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy.
"They're going to finish him off' - Protesters rally outside US Embassy in Madrid in support of Assange as final extradition battle continues
Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid on Tuesday in support of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, following the commencement of the extradition hearing.
Footage features protesters rallying, chanting, and holding banners and placards reading 'Free Assange',' I am Julian Assange', 'Hands off Assange' and 'Freedom for Assange'.
"Now that his own life is in uncertainty right now, because if they take him to the United States and he is in poor health, they are going to finish him off," said Leo Bassi, an Italian jeste and activist.
Olatz Cacho, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, stated that the organisation contends the charges against Assange lack merit.
Pro-Assange rallies were held in various cities all around the world, amid fears of potential extradition.
The trial marks the first day of a two-day hearing scheduled for February 20-21. Assange faces 18 charges from US authorities following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Last year, a High Court judge ruled that Assange had no legal grounds to challenge his extradition, which was approved in 2022 by then-home secretary Priti Patel.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being arrested in April 2019 after being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy.
Protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Madrid on Tuesday in support of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, following the commencement of the extradition hearing.
Footage features protesters rallying, chanting, and holding banners and placards reading 'Free Assange',' I am Julian Assange', 'Hands off Assange' and 'Freedom for Assange'.
"Now that his own life is in uncertainty right now, because if they take him to the United States and he is in poor health, they are going to finish him off," said Leo Bassi, an Italian jeste and activist.
Olatz Cacho, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, stated that the organisation contends the charges against Assange lack merit.
Pro-Assange rallies were held in various cities all around the world, amid fears of potential extradition.
The trial marks the first day of a two-day hearing scheduled for February 20-21. Assange faces 18 charges from US authorities following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Last year, a High Court judge ruled that Assange had no legal grounds to challenge his extradition, which was approved in 2022 by then-home secretary Priti Patel.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being arrested in April 2019 after being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy.