Poster by supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange . File photoPARIS, Feb. 5 The French National Assembly on Friday rejected a draft resolution calling on the French government to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ca0544c3728e73b0663a7d21a863d1b9.jpg» />Assange's fiancee said his health is deteriorating every day Earlier, a draft resolution was submitted to the lower house of the French parliament by a whole group of deputies, including Jennifer de Temmerman, Cedric Villani, Francois Ruffin, Jean Lassalle. In the document, they pointed out, «Assange has been subjected to judicial, and in fact political persecution by the United States for more than a decade.» They offered the government of France — a country that protects freedom of the press and the individual — to provide asylum to Assange, who disclosed to the world information about the illegal actions of the United States and data on American surveillance of the Elysee Palace. On December 10, 2021, the High Court of London granted the US appeal against a previous decision prohibiting extradition Assange, the court satisfied the guarantees that the United States provided to the British side. The hearing was limited to the question of whether the judge at the Central Criminal Court in London was wrong in her judgment that Assange could commit suicide if he were extradited to the US. The court granted the US appeal and ruled that the case should go to Westminster Magistrates' Court with instructions for the District Judge to refer the case to the Minister of State, who will decide whether Assange should be extradited to the US. Assange filed a petition at the end of December for the opportunity to appeal this decision. Assange, accused in Sweden in 2010 of sexual harassment and rape, has been hiding since June 2012 in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearing extradition. On the morning of April 11, 2019, he was detained at the request of the United States. Extradition hearings began on May 2, 2019. Shortly thereafter, US authorities announced that they had filed new charges against Assange for 17 counts of violating the law on espionage and disclosing classified information. If extradited to the US, Assange faces up to 175 years in prison.
