KARACHI: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed concern over the UK High Court’s decision rejecting WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange’s appeal against his extradition order.

In a statement issued on Thursday, RSF’s Director of Campaigns Rebecca Vincent said the court order has brought him dangerously close to being extradited to the United States, where he could face the rest of his life in prison for publishing leaked classified documents in 2010.

A single judge, Justice Swift, rejected on Tuesday all eight grounds of Assange’s appeal against the extradition order signed by then-UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in June 2022.

This leaves only one final step in the UK courts, as the defence has five working days to submit an appeal of only 20 pages to a panel of two judges, who will convene a public hearing.

Further appeals will not be possible at the domestic level, but Assange could bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights.

“It is absurd that a single judge can issue a three-page decision that could land Julian Assange in prison for the rest of his life and permanently impact the climate for journalism around the world”, the statement said.

The RSF said “the historical weight of what happens next cannot be overstated; it is time to put a stop to this relentless targeting of Assange and act instead to protect journalism and press freedom.”

“Our call on President Biden is now more urgent than ever: drop these charges, close the case against Assange, and allow for his release without further delay”, the statement said.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2023