Swedish Appeals Court Confirms Arrest Warrant for Julian Assange

A court in Sweden confirmed the arrest warrant for Julian Assange, the founder of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, on Friday, September 16. This marks a new phase in Assange's six-year legal battle with the Swedish prosecution, paving the way for legal requirements to interrogate him in London next month. Reuters reminds us that 45-year-old Julian Assange has been wanted by Swedish prosecutors since 2010 for allegations of sexual assault, which he denies. The court stated in part of its ruling: "This appeals court confirms the local court's ruling and the suspicion against Julian Assange for the charge of rape." Assange prevented his extradition to Sweden by seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012. He has expressed serious concerns about the possibility of extradition to the United States, where a legal case has been opened against him due to the revelations from WikiLeaks, which could lead to severe penalties if he is tried. Assange's Swedish lawyer stated that he has not yet discussed the appeals court ruling with his client and added, "I believe we will appeal this ruling." The appeals court noted that the long stalemate in resolving this case and the Swedish prosecution's inactivity in pursuing investigations could provide valid reasons for revoking the arrest warrant. However, informing the public is an important reason why the arrest warrant must still be enforced. In another part of the appeals court's statement, it said, "Currently, continuing the arrest process and warning for the completion of investigations and conclusions in this case is necessary." The Ecuadorian government has set October 17 for questioning Julian Assange at its embassy in London, and the Swedish prosecution has announced that the questioning will be conducted by an Ecuadorian prosecutor. Assange last requested the cancellation of his arrest warrant following the publication of a report by a UN investigative committee in February 2016. The UN committee, composed of legal experts, stated that Assange's stay at the Ecuadorian embassy constitutes unlawful detention, and he should be freed unconditionally to leave that location and should receive compensation for the years he was not allowed to exit.