A British judge on Monday ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should
not be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges for having
published hundreds of confidential documentations online, finding he was at risk
of suicide, AFP reported.

Noting the 49-year-old Australian publisher was a risk of suicide in case
of being sent across the Atlantic into US soil for custody, District Judge Vanessa
Baraitser was quoted by AFP as stating that the extradition would be “oppressive
by reason of mental harm and I order his discharge”.

Also read: Pamela Anderson calls for last-minute presidential pardon for Julian Assange

Reportedly, Baraitser further stated that in case of being detained in
the US, Assange Assange “faces the bleak prospect of severely restrictive
detention conditions designed to remove physical contact and reduce social
interaction and contact with the outside world to a bare minimum”.

Confirming Assange to be someone with “a
diagnosis of clinical depression and persistent thoughts of suicide”, she further
stated in her ruling that she was “satisfied that the risk that Mr Assange will
commit suicide is a substantial one.”

Assange wiped his forehead as the decision was announced
while his fiancee Stella Moris burst into tears and was
embraced by WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson.

Having gathered outside the Old Bailey
Court in central London since early morning, supporters of Assange erupted in
applause, with shouts of ‘Free Assange!’ going off frequently.

The 49-year-old was remanded in custody
until a bail application, which could take place later on Monday.

Also read: Julian Assange case: Germany urges UK to consider “human rights” during extradition hearing

Freedom of the Press Foundation, a US
non-profit, said the case against Assange was, “the most
dangerous threat to US press freedom in decades”.

If convicted in the United States of
the 2010 release of secret files by WikiLeaks, Assange could be facing up to
175 years of jail-term.

US and British prosecutors can still
appeal Baraitser’s ruling.

Assange and his legal team have long
argued that the case was a politically motivated one.