British Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday (17) approved the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face criminal charges, bringing the long legal saga closer to a conclusion.

Assange is subpoenaed by US authorities on 18 charges, including espionage, related to WikiLeaks' release of a vast collection of classified US military records and diplomatic telegrams that they say have endangered lives.

His supporters say that he is an anti-establishment hero who was persecuted because he exposed US wrongdoing in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that his prosecution is a politically motivated attack on journalism and free speech.

Hard to believe, but it looks real. Every serious press freedom group in the world has protested this. It is an appalling symbol of how far the British and American governments' commitment to human rights has declined.

How can we condemn authoritarian abuses abroad like this? https://t.co/sgvLRgZtEg

- Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 17, 2022

Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, a world rights group, said that "allowing Julian Assange to be extradited to the US would put him at great risk and send a chilling message to journalists around the world."

"If extradition proceeds, Amnesty International is extremely concerned that Assange faces a high risk of prolonged solitary confinement, which would violate the prohibition on torture or other ill-treatment," she said.

"The diplomatic assurances provided by the US that Assange will not be held in solitary confinement cannot be taken at face value given prior history."

"On June 17, after consideration by the Magistrates' Court and the High Court, the extradition of Julian Assange to the US was ordered. Assange retains the normal right to appeal the decision within 14 days," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Patel's decision does not mean the end of the Australian-born Assange's legal battle that has now lasted more than a decade.

The WikiLeaks founder can appeal to the High Court in London, which must give its approval for a challenge to proceed. Ultimately, he may try to take his case to the UK Supreme Court. But if the appeal is denied, Assange must be extradited within 28 days. (Aljazeera)