Julian Assange was strip searched and moved to a bare cell on the day the Home Secretary announced she was allowing his extradition to the United States, his wife Stella Assange has said. She claimed the WikiLeaks founder, 50, was told the move was 'for his own protection'.
Assange, who is held at Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, had no visits over the weekend following the announcement last Friday. His wife revealed earlier this month that he had vowed to kill himself if extradited to the US, where he faces espionage charges and a potential 175-year jail sentence.
'Imagine what it's like for him to have to process this alone,' Mrs Assange said. She described the treatment as 'especially cruel', adding: 'After the announcement of Patel's decision, Julian was taken from his cell so that he could be strip searched, and then escorted to a bare cell where he remained for the rest of the weekend. His own cell was searched. They were looking for things that could be used to take one's own life.'
John Rees, a leading member of the campaign for Assange's release, called the treatment 'extrajudicial punishment' and 'unacceptable'. Supporters, including journalist John Pilger, also criticised the handling of Assange on the day Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the extradition order.
Assange's legal team have indicated they will launch a further challenge at the High Court, focusing on issues not yet heard. Last month, the Supreme Court denied his request to challenge a December 2021 High Court ruling that he could be extradited, as his application did not raise 'an arguable point of law'.
