Assange Update

[Content Note: Rape culture.]

CNN: WikiLeaks' Assange loses sex case [sic] appeal but will fight on.
The British Supreme Court on Wednesday denied Julian Assange's appeal against extradition to Sweden over sexual abuse allegations, but the judges left open a surprise avenue for the WikiLeaks founder to fight on.

Assange will take it, his legal team said, arguing that the judges made their decision based on issues that were not argued in court.

Assange has been fighting for a year and a half against being sent to Sweden for questioning about accusations of sexual abuse.

Two women in Sweden accused Assange in August 2010 of sexually assaulting them during a visit to the country in connection with a WikiLeaks release of internal U.S. military documents.

The Supreme Court appeared Wednesday to clear the way for him to be sent to Sweden for questioning, then unexpectedly gave his legal team two weeks to file an appeal.

Assange lawyer Gareth Pierce said after the hearing that he would request a new hearing.

"The majority of the judges decided that custom and practice of the European community in effect trumped the law," she said. That "was not argued in court and that in itself would be a breach of the (European Convention on Human Rights) Article 6 guarantee to a fair hearing."

It is very unusual for the court to grant permission to appeal its rulings, which are supposed to be final in Britain.
Emphasis mine. Just what this case needed—some more sympathy and special treatment for Julian Assange, lest he suffer the incomprehensible indignity of being questioned about alleged misconduct.

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