<p>London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's last-ditch legal challenge to stop his extradition from Britain to the United States is a matter of life or death, his wife Stella said on Thursday.</p><p>Assange, 52, is wanted by US authorities on 18 counts relating to WikiLeaks' release of vast troves of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.</p><p>Britain approved his extradition in 2022, a decision which Assange's lawyers will fight to try and overturn next week at London's High Court.</p><p>Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Stella Assange said her husband would not survive if he went to the US.</p><p>"His health is in decline, physically and mentally," she said. "His life is at risk every single day he stays in prison – and if he is extradited he will die."</p><p>In January 2021, a judge ruled Assange should not be extradited as his mental health meant he would be at risk of suicide if held in a maximum security prison.</p><p>The High Court reversed that decision after an appeal by U.S. authorities who gave a series of assurances about Assange's treatment.</p><p>Stella Assange said they would apply to the European Court of Human Rights for an injunction if his attempt to challenge his extradition at next week's hearing in London fails.</p><p>WikiLeaks first came to prominence in 2010 when it released hundreds of thousands of classified files and diplomatic cables.</p><p>U.S. prosecutors say the leaks imperilled the lives of their agents, but Assange's supporters argue he has been victimised for exposing U.S. wrongdoing.</p><p>Assange spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London before he was dragged out and jailed in 2019 for breaching bail conditions.</p><p>He has been held in a maximum-security prison in London ever since while his extradition case is decided.</p><p>Asked about the couple's two children, Stella Assange said they did not know about the extradition fight: "Julian and I protect the children.</p>
<p>London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's last-ditch legal challenge to stop his extradition from Britain to the United States is a matter of life or death, his wife Stella said on Thursday.</p><p>Assange, 52, is wanted by US authorities on 18 counts relating to WikiLeaks' release of vast troves of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.</p><p>Britain approved his extradition in 2022, a decision which Assange's lawyers will fight to try and overturn next week at London's High Court.</p><p>Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Stella Assange said her husband would not survive if he went to the US.</p><p>"His health is in decline, physically and mentally," she said. "His life is at risk every single day he stays in prison – and if he is extradited he will die."</p><p>In January 2021, a judge ruled Assange should not be extradited as his mental health meant he would be at risk of suicide if held in a maximum security prison.</p><p>The High Court reversed that decision after an appeal by U.S. authorities who gave a series of assurances about Assange's treatment.</p><p>Stella Assange said they would apply to the European Court of Human Rights for an injunction if his attempt to challenge his extradition at next week's hearing in London fails.</p><p>WikiLeaks first came to prominence in 2010 when it released hundreds of thousands of classified files and diplomatic cables.</p><p>U.S. prosecutors say the leaks imperilled the lives of their agents, but Assange's supporters argue he has been victimised for exposing U.S. wrongdoing.</p><p>Assange spent seven years holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London before he was dragged out and jailed in 2019 for breaching bail conditions.</p><p>He has been held in a maximum-security prison in London ever since while his extradition case is decided.</p><p>Asked about the couple's two children, Stella Assange said they did not know about the extradition fight: "Julian and I protect the children.</p>