LONDON – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday lost a bitter legal battle to block his extradition from Britain to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault. Two judges at the high court in London rejected arguments by the 40-year-old Australian, whose
anti-secrecy website has enraged governments around the world, that his extradition would be unlawful.
“The court dismissed the appeal,” said a summary of the judgement, before detailing the four counts on which Assange had appealed against an earlier decision by a lower court in February that he should be sent to Sweden.
Assange’s lawyers did not say whether he would make a further appeal to England’s Supreme Court, but doing so would be difficult as judges must first decide that the case is of special public interest.
Assange has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and linked to the activities of WikiLeaks. He has been under virtual house arrest since he was first detained in December.
He wore a blue suit with a poppy in his lapel – a symbol in Britain to mark Armistice Day on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I — and sat quietly next to his lawyers as the judgement was announced.
