04:23Julian Assange's wife Stella and his lawyer Jennifer Robinson were seen at a rally outside London's High Court on Tuesday, as the Wikileaks' founder's final extradition battle began.
"Thank you everyone here today for coming for Julian," Stella told the crowd. "He would be very moved to know that so many people showed up today. Whatever happens today, tomorrow and this week, please keep on showing up. Be there for Julian, for us and for you, until Julian is free."
Assange's legal team are seeking leave to appeal his extradition to the United States. Footage shows protesters holding signs reading ‘free Julian Assange’ and 'don't extradite Assange'.
"This case is setting a dangerous precedent, that means that any journalist anywhere in the world could be prosecuted for publishing truthful information," claimed Robinson.
It marks the first day of a two-day hearing, scheduled for February 20-21. Assange is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, 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.
He remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy and arrested in April 2019.
'Be there for Julian - Assange's wife joins rally outside London's High Court as final extradition battle begins
Julian Assange's wife Stella and his lawyer Jennifer Robinson were seen at a rally outside London's High Court on Tuesday, as the Wikileaks' founder's final extradition battle began.
"Thank you everyone here today for coming for Julian," Stella told the crowd. "He would be very moved to know that so many people showed up today. Whatever happens today, tomorrow and this week, please keep on showing up. Be there for Julian, for us and for you, until Julian is free."
Assange's legal team are seeking leave to appeal his extradition to the United States. Footage shows protesters holding signs reading ‘free Julian Assange’ and 'don't extradite Assange'.
"This case is setting a dangerous precedent, that means that any journalist anywhere in the world could be prosecuted for publishing truthful information," claimed Robinson.
It marks the first day of a two-day hearing, scheduled for February 20-21. Assange is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, 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.
He remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy and arrested in April 2019.
Julian Assange's wife Stella and his lawyer Jennifer Robinson were seen at a rally outside London's High Court on Tuesday, as the Wikileaks' founder's final extradition battle began.
"Thank you everyone here today for coming for Julian," Stella told the crowd. "He would be very moved to know that so many people showed up today. Whatever happens today, tomorrow and this week, please keep on showing up. Be there for Julian, for us and for you, until Julian is free."
Assange's legal team are seeking leave to appeal his extradition to the United States. Footage shows protesters holding signs reading ‘free Julian Assange’ and 'don't extradite Assange'.
"This case is setting a dangerous precedent, that means that any journalist anywhere in the world could be prosecuted for publishing truthful information," claimed Robinson.
It marks the first day of a two-day hearing, scheduled for February 20-21. Assange is wanted by US authorities on 18 charges, 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.
He remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison, where he has been held since being dragged from the Ecuadorian Embassy and arrested in April 2019.