WikiLeaks founder pushes for reopening extradition case

PanARMENIAN.Net - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is pushing to have his extradition hearing reopened after his lawyer won a two-week delay to consider the verdict that went against him late last month.

According to The Register, the Justice4Assange website confirmed today, June 12 that, as expected, the 40-year-old Australian has applied to have his case aired in court again.

On 30 May, the UK's Supreme Court ruled that Assange should be extradited to Sweden to face accusations of sexual harassment and rape. His appeal against that action was chucked out by judges with five members to two dismissing his argument to remain in Blighty.

At the time, the Supreme Court panel concluded that the Swedish public prosecutor, who demanded that Assange return to Sweden and issued a European Arrest Warrant, could be considered a judicial authority - thus enabling an extradition to take place.

However, Assange's QC Dinah Rose immediately noted in response to that judgment that the beaks had based their decision on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. That could be critical in helping to get the case reopened because it had not even been discussed or argued during previous proceedings.

"The points being made as to the applicability of the Vienna Convention are serious issues in international law," the Justice4Assange campaign website said.