Supporters, colleagues, and family say they are not giving up the fight to stop the extradition of Julian Assange from the Belmarsh prison in London, UK, to the US to face espionage charges.
Wikileaks publisher, Assange, is wanted in the US over documents related to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan leaked in 2010 and 2011, which authorities in that country say broke the law and endangered lives.
Earlier on Friday, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that she had approved the extradition to the US of the Wikileaks founder.
The Home Office said Assange has 14 days to appeal the decision.
Stella Assange, the wife of Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, told reporters that she was going to appeal the extradition decision.
‘”We’re going to fight this. We’re going to use every appeal avenue.”
Commenting on the decision, Wikileaks said: “This is a dark day for press freedom and British democracy.”
Wikileaks added: “Anyone who cares about freedom of expression should be deeply ashamed that the home secretary had approved the extradition of Juliam Assange to the United States, the country that plotted his assasination.
“Julian did nothing wrong. He has committed no crime and is not a criminal. He is a journalist and a publisher and he is being punished for doing his job.”
Wikileaks said “today” was not the end of the fight.
“It is only the beginning of a new legal battle. We will appeal through the legal system, the next appeal will be before the High court.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour Party leader, tweeted: “The Home Secretary’s decision to allow Julian Assange’s extradition to the US is utterly wrong and marks a very dark day for press freedom and the justice system. We will continue the fight to free Julian Assange”.
In South Africa, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa – the biggest single trade union in the country – has been calling for Assange to be freed.
