Wikileaks founder Jullian Assange suffered mini stroke in prison

 Jullian Assange imprisoned in London and fighting a legal battle against his extradition to US 

Julian Assange, the Wikileaks publisher and investigating journalist has suffered a mini stroke in the London prison. According to his wife Stella Moris, the stroke happened in October when US government filed an appeal against a ruling blocking his removal.  Julian Assange imprisoned in Britain is fighting a legal battle to avoid extradition from Britain to the United States.

Stella Moris tweeted that he needs to be freed. Moris was quoted as saying she was concerned it could lead to a more major stroke and raised fears about his ability to withstand the extradition process. "I believe this constant chess game, battle after battle, the extreme stress, is what caused Julian's stroke on October 27," she added.

The United States is seeking extradition of Assange to put him on trial for WikiLeaks' 2010 publication of thousands of top-secret military documents about the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The US wants to make him an example for others. The US wants to silent all those who wanted to expose US crimes against humanity.

The Britain continues to imprison him on US pressure. Many journalists and human rights activists are calling on Britain to free Assange. His imprisonment and extradition is seen as an attempt to silent US critics.  

On Friday December 10, two appeal judges of London High Court overturned the decision of District Judge after accepting US government assurances he would receive appropriate treatment and not be held in punishing isolation in custody. The lawyers representing Assange has already announced to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.

The London District Judge in January 2021 blocked the extradition on the grounds that he was a suicide risk if transferred to US custody. His lawyers have previously raised concerns about the effects of his lengthy incarceration on his physical and mental health in a bid to halt the extradition.

Assange spent seven years in Ecuador's London embassy until 2019 after jumping bail in connection with sexual assault allegations in Sweden. He was then jailed for 50 weeks for breaching bail in that case, which was later dropped, but detained ever since on the grounds he was a flight risk.

                                                              International Desk