Reax from fiancee and editor as Assange denied bail

Wikileaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said that decision of a British judge to deny bail to WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange is "illogical" and "inhumane".

London: The decision of a British judge to deny bail to WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange is "illogical" and "inhumane", Wikileaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said Wednesday.

Hrafnsson was speaking outside a London court shortly after district judge Vanessa Baraitser said Assange must remain in prison while the United States appeals against her ruling, earlier this week, rejecting their application to extradite him to face espionage charges.

The judge said Assange had an incentive to abscond and there was a good chance he would fail to return to court if he was freed.

On Monday, Baraitser rejected the American request on health grounds, saying Assange was likely to kill himself if held under harsh U.S. prison conditions.

The US has said it will appeal.

Wednesday's ruling to refuse bail means Assange must remain in London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison where he has been held since he was arrested in April 2019 for skipping bail during a separate legal battle seven years earlier.

Assange's partner, Stella Moris, said the decision was “a huge disappointment.”

Rebecca Vincent of Reporters Without Borders described the refusal of bail as "unnecessarily cruel".

AP