Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the United Kingdom to reject a request, from the United States, for the extradition of recently detained whistleblower and WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange.
Corbyn said Assange, who was forcibly removed from the Ecuadorean embassy in London and arrested, should not be extradited "for exposing evidence of atrocities in Iraq and Afghanistan" that were alleged to have been committed by the United States.
The Labour chief tweeted a video which is alleged to be U.S. Pentagon footage - that had been released by WikiLeaks - of a 2007 airstrike which implicated the U.S. military in the killing of civilians and two journalists.
Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno revoked WikiLeaks Australian co-founder’s asylum leading to him being evicted and detained by the Metropolitan Police.
Assange now faces extradition to the United States. WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson have expressed concern that Assange could be slapped with additional charges once he arrives in the United States.
Hrafnsson added that Assange had been thrown "overboard" by Ecuador, saying "I thought it was horrible to treat an individual like that. I thought it was disgraceful the Ecuadoreans would go back on their word."
Following Thursday's arrest, Assange was brought before the Westminster Magistrates' Court and found guilty of a British charge of breaching bail - which attracts a maximum one-year prison term.
Assange, who had been residing in the embassy since 2012, also now faces a computer hacking charge which the United States filed Thursday. The U.S. charge carries a maximum five-year sentence.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott commented on the detainment stating that "this is all about WikiLeaks and all of that embarrassing information about the activities of the American military and security services that was made public."
Assange could also face sexual assault charges in Sweden, a charge he denies.
“Julian Assange will get the same consular support and assistance that any other Australian would receive,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “People’s fame does not make any difference on the impact of how these decisions are made.”