Julian Assange: Australian politicians call for release of WikiLeaks founder - BBC News

The vote - passed with overwhelming support - comes ahead of his final appeal against US extradition.

13 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Julian Assange has been held in London's high-security Belmarsh Prison since 2019By Hannah Ritchiein SydneyAustralia's parliament has passed a motion calling on the US and UK to release Julian Assange, ahead of a crucial legal hearing.

Mr Assange will appear in front of the UK's High Court next week for his final appeal against US extradition.

The Australian citizen, currently in London's Belmarsh Prison, is wanted in the US on espionage charges and faces up to 175 years in prison.

Australian MPs voted 86-42 that Mr Assange should be allowed to come home.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who supported the motion, has called for the Assange case to come to a "conclusion" since taking office in 2022.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-68302206

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