Harry Dunn crash: Family urge government to block Julian Assange extradition

On 23rd February BBC News reports

The family of Harry Dunn has urged the government to refuse the extradition of Julian Assange until the US returns the suspect in his death back to the UK.

Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger accused the US of “hypocrisy” in seeking Assange’s extradition, despite rejecting the return of Anne Sacoolas.

She is suspected of causing the teenager’s death by dangerous driving.

The family said the foreign secretary told them he is “reviewing all options”.

The 19-year-old’s parents have called on Dominic Raab and the government to refuse any further extradition requests by the US – including that of the Wikileaks co-founder – after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected extraditing Sacoolas, last month.

Treaty ‘torn up’

In refusing the UK’s “lawful” extradition request, Mr Seiger accused the US of launching “the single greatest attack” on its “so-called special relationship” with the UK.

Mr Seiger added: “The US is not behaving like an ally and has effectively thumbed its nose up at the UK and ignored the clearly laid out provisions in the treaty, effectively tearing it up.”

He said the principle of “reciprocity” is at the heart of any extradition treaty, which the US is “failing to abide by” in its “disgraceful refusal” to extradite Ms Sacoolas.

“In doing so, they are demonstrating an extraordinary amount of hypocrisy, and the double standards on display are unprecedented,” he added.

Mr Seiger continued: “On behalf of Harry Dunn’s family and the millions of concerned citizens in the UK, I now demand that the UK authorities block any further extraditions to the US, including the one of Julian Assange, until such time as Anne Sacoolas is extradited and back on UK soil facing the justice system here.”

Read original article in BBC News