Who is Julian Assange and why does the US want to extradite him? - BBC News

Julian Assange, the man behind Wikileaks, says he’s the victim of a US conspiracy to punish him for exposing alleged US war crimes.

Assange set up Wikileaks in 2006 to expose secrets that he, and others, thought should be exposed, including alleged US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the US says the leaks broke the law and endangered lives.

Assange had sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London to avoid deportation. He remained there for nearly 7 years until he was ejected and arrested.

A UK district judge blocked his extradition after his lawyer told the court that the risk of suicide would be "imminent the moment extradition becomes likely". An appeal is now going to the British High Court where they will decide if he should face extradition to the USA.

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