Is the U.S Overstepping Bounds? Assange, the CIA and ECHR

USPA NEWS - Claims have emerged that Julian Assange’s possible extradition to the United States based on evidence featured in a Yahoo News report on Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) covert strategies against WikiLeaks may contravene articles 2 and 3 of The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Reports suggest implications for human rights as international attention focusses on Julian Assange’s potential extradition to America following significant revelations from a Yahoo News exposé into clandest. In a significant development, Julian Assange's extradition to the US has come under scrutiny for potentially violating Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), according to evidence cited in a Yahoo News article titled "Kidnapping, assassination and a London shoot-out: Inside the CIA's secret war plans against WikiLeaks." Here https://news.yahoo.com/kidnapping-assassination-and-a-london-shoot-out-inside-the-ci-as-secret-war-plans-against-wiki-leaks-090057786.html The report alleges that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had plotted covert operations against Assange, including kidnapping and assassination. This revelation has sparked considerable concern among human rights advocates who argue that such actions infringe on Assange's rights as outlined in the ECHR.

A petition titled Free Julian Assange, before it's too late. Sign to STOP the USA Extradition has been launched on Change.org to rally public support for his freedom. Here https://www.change.org/p/free-julian-assange-before-it-s-too-late-stop-usa-extradition

Backing this stance are prominent journalism organizations like the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ). The NUJ highlighted these allegations in their report CIA reportedly plotted to kidnap and assassinate Julian Assange, while CIoJ urged for an end to Assange's extradition process in their statement CIoJ urges withdrawal of Assange extradition process. Here https://www.nuj.org.uk/resource/cia-reportedly-plotted-to-kidnap-and-assassinate-julian-assange.html and here https://cioj.org/cioj-urges-withdrawal-of-assange-extradition-process/

These developments shed light on what is being perceived as an overreach by US authorities, raising questions about press freedom and human rights protections.

The Right Honourable Mr. Greg Hands MP made the following statement: "It is important to stress that extradition is a vital tool in the UK’s fight against transnational crime. There are also stringent legal protections in place to ensure a case does not raise any human rights issues and it is not incompatible with the five statutory bars to extradition.

Under the Extradition Act 2003, the Home Secretary must sign an extradition order if there are no grounds to prohibit the order being made. Extradition requests are only sent to the Home Secretary once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case.

When presiding over a case, a judge must decide whether the case raises any human rights issues and whether the case passes the five statutory bars to extradition. These include rules against double jeopardy, extraneous considerations (where it is considered that the person is being prosecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or political opinions) and historic offences."

The Right Honourable Mr. Greg Hands MP also made the following statement: "In this instance, UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr Assange. Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health. The Home Secretary has therefore signed the extradition order."

Despite attempts to solicit an update or comment from the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison Service in accordance with the law, there was no response received prior to the publication of this professional article.