Assange's wife and others speak on second day of final UK legal battle to avoid extradition to U.S.

(21 Feb 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS London - 21 February 2024 1. Wide of Stella Assange, wife of Julian Assange, walking up to the stage 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Stella Assange, wife of Julian Assange: "They have to admit that what they're doing is criminalising journalism, is criminalising the truth. They are liars, they are criminals, and they are persecuting the journalists who expose them." 3. Andrew Wilkie, Australian Member of Parliament, walking up to the stage 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wilkie, Australian MP: "The Australian Prime Minister has finally stood up and given a clear, strong signal to the Americans that enough is enough. Regardless of what you think of Julian, this matter must be brought to an end. The extradition must be dropped. The charges must be dropped. He must be busted out of Belmarsh (prison). He must be allowed to be reunited with his family." 5. Gabriel Shipton, Julian Assange’s brother walking up to the stage 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Gabriel Shipton, Julian Assange’s brother: "And this case remains a stain, a stain on the US, a stain on the UK. And both governments should be absolutely ashamed of it and what they're doing to press freedom." 7. Richard Assange, Julian Assange’s father walking up to the stage 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Assange, Julian Assange’s father: "Julian has spent over 14 years in one form of incarceration or another. Are you good with that?" Supporters: "No!" Richard Assange: "All of Julian's human rights suspended. Are you good with that?" Supporters: "No!" 9. Mid of banner reading "Don't extradite Assange" 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Wilkie, Australian MP: "Julian is an Australian citizen. You know, he's a constituent. Australian parliamentarians should be showing an interest and supporting him, like they did just last week in the Australian Parliament where, two thirds of the members of the House of Representatives voted in favor of a motion, to bring this matter to an end. Now, that might not sound like a big turn of events, but until last week, we couldn't get the parliament to support Julian - now it does. Last week, we also, for the very first time, managed to get our Prime Minister to stand up at the despatch box and make a, absolutely strong, clear statement to that same effect that 'This has gone on long enough. It must be brought to an end.' Hopefully, that is sending a strong signal to the British government, and to the US government." 11. Various of protesters, many in various costumes, in front of the court holding banners and signs reading (English) "Assange is a hero" and "Free Julian Assange Now!" STORYLINE: Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Wednesday protested outside Britain's High Court for a second day after his defence lawyers launched a last-ditch bid to stop his extradition to the US. Assange's wife, brother and father as well as Australian lawmaker Andrew Wilkie made speeches outside the high court building, as supporters chanted and held up “Free Julian Assange” signs. Assange’s lawyers are asking the High Court to grant him a new appeal — his last legal roll of the dice in the long-running legal saga that has kept him in a British high-security prison for the past five years. Lawyers for the American government argued Wednesday Assange should face espionage charges in the United States because he put innocent lives at risk and went beyond journalism in his bid to solicit, steal and indiscriminately publish classified U.S. government documents. The British government signed an extradition order in June 2022. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...