Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been granted a final chance to appeal his extradition to the United States. The British high court ruling came after lawyers argued the Australian could be discriminated against because of his nationality.
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00:00 At the 11th hour, Britain's High Court delivers for Julian Assange.
00:07 The 52-year-old too unwell to hear the good news himself.
00:14 The judges reached the right decision.
00:17 We spent a long time hearing the United States putting lipstick on a pig,
00:23 but the judges did not buy it.
00:26 For the past five years, he's fought his extradition to the US
00:30 from behind bars in London's Belmarsh Prison.
00:33 Two of Britain's most senior judges were comfortable
00:36 the WikiLeaks founder wouldn't face the death penalty,
00:39 but weren't convinced he'd be guaranteed the same free speech protections as a US citizen.
00:45 It's good news because the court accepted the appeal,
00:48 but it's kind of bittersweet news
00:52 because still we don't know when the appeal will take place.
00:57 He's wanted in America on 18 criminal charges
01:01 for obtaining, receiving and publishing classified documents
01:04 about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
01:07 Outside court, loyal supporters showed their joy and relief at the court's decision.
01:12 This is a legal victory for Julian Assange,
01:15 but it doesn't guarantee his freedom nor stop his eventual expedition to the United States.
01:21 He's not free. He's not free. He's still in the belly of the beast.
01:27 We just want him free now. He shouldn't be in there anyway.
01:30 His poor family's suffering more. He just shouldn't be there. He should be released.
01:35 Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton flew from Australia for the hearing.
01:40 He's now travelling to the United States to lobby Congress to drop the case.
01:44 The only way that this is going to come to a quick conclusion
01:47 is through the Australian government's advocacy
01:50 and them using their coercive leverage with the United States to get Julian home.
01:56 For now, Julian Assange remains behind bars until yet another court hearing is set.
02:04 (upbeat music)
02:06 [BLANK_AUDIO]