Germany is following Julian Assange case with concern, the
country’s human rights commissioner said, while urging the UK to consider the
whistleblower’s mental and physical condition before deciding on his
extradition to the US, AFP reported on Wednesday.

Assange is serving a sentence in Belmarsh jail of London and
awaiting decision on his extradition to the US, where he faces 18 charges of
espionage with potential sentence of 175 years.

A hearing is due on January 4 in a London court on the
matter.

“I am following with concern the extradition
proceedings in the UK against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange,” Baerbel
Kofler said in a statement.

“The human rights and humanitarian aspects of a
possible extradition must not be overlooked,” Kofler said, as per AFP
report.

“It is imperative that the physical and mental health
of Julian Assange be taken into account when deciding whether to extradite him
to the US,” she added, stressing Britain is “bound by the European
Convention on Human Rights”.

Also read: Calls for Julian Assange’s release gather strength ahead of his extradition hearing

The Australian hacker activist is wanted by the US
government for leaking 500,000 secret documents involving US’ conduct of war in
Iraq and Afghanistan, including potential war crimes.

He was first arrested by the London authorities in 2010, and
then when on bail, he took refuge in Ecuador Embassy in the capital in 2013. He
was re-arrested in April, 2019, after he was denied further refuge by the
embassy with a change in the government in Quito.

He is now serving time on charges of breaching bail.

Calls for his pardon have been made by several top figures,
including the United Nations and US politicians like Sarah Palin and Tulsi
Gabbard.

Also read: Pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, UN expert urges Donald Trump

President Donald Trump, who had earlier praised Assange for his work
in exposing documents related to Hilary Clinton, has not spoken on his pardon
yet.