U.K. Court Rejects Julian Assange's Request to Reopen Extradition Case

our editor recommends

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange Appeals U.K. Extradition Ruling

WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Loses U.K. Appeal Against Extradition

The U.K. Supreme Court has rejected an application from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to reopen his extradition case, the Guardian reported.

Assange's lawyers could now appeal the decision at the European Court of Human Rights to avoid his extradition to Sweden where he would face rape charges.

STORY: WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Loses U.K. Appeal Against Extradition

They had filed the appeal against his extradition earlier in the week. Assange has disputed allegations from two Swedish women who claimed they were sexually assaulted and raped by him in Sweden.

The Supreme Court though said in a statement that the unusual application to reopen the case "is without merit, and it is dismissed," according to the Guardian.

The U.K. Supreme Court recently had ruled that Assange should be extradited. The case revolved around legal definitions. The court said that a Swedish prosecutor counted as a "judicial authority" and therefore had the right to request Assange's extradition.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com
Twitter: @georgszalai