Assange Allowed To Move UK SC Against Extradition To Sweden

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange today won the right to petition the UK's Supreme Court in his high-profile battle against extradition to Sweden, where he faces charges of sexual assault, reports Prasun Sonwalkar.

The High Court in London ruled in favour of 40-year-old Assange, observing that his case raised a question "of general public importance" which should be decided by the highest court in the land "as quickly as possible". Assange, the Australia-born founder of whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, had last month lost a High Court battle to be extradited over the alleged sex offences, which he denies. But, the High Court today paved the way for him to pursue his case against extradition in the Supreme Court. Swedish authorities want to question him over accusations of rape and sexual assault made by two women, former WikiLeaks volunteers, during a visit there in August 2010. Assange was in the London court today for the ruling. Although two judges of the High Court refused Assange permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, they ruled that the apex court should have the final word on the issue, paving the way for his lawyers to apply directly to the higher court. However, the WikiLeaks founder still has no automatic right to be heard by the Supreme Court. The door to a fresh hearing was opened by Sir John Thomas and Justice Ouseley, the judges who recently dismissed Assange's application for judicial review. In certifying a question, the judges were giving Assange access to the Supreme Court. He now has to ask the apex court justices to hear his case.