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In reply to the discussion: So let me see if I understand the 2 biggest hot button topics on DU [View all]Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)Any other person who stood accused of a serious crime for which extradition was sought would be extradited with much less fuss and attention. He has had the benefit of a full appeals process, while represented by some of the UK's most able human rights lawyers, that went all the way to the UK's highest court; his appeals against extradition were dismissed.
The Swedish government cannot guarantee that they won't extradite him to the US; no such request has been made, and any government guarantee would be meaningless because extradition, if appealed, is decided on the merits of the individual case in the courts (the judiciary being independent of the government and not bound by its guarantees not to extradite). Asking for a guarantee that there will be no extradition to the US is asking for an impossibility.
See the following:
In these circumstances it would appear to be legally impossible for Sweden to give the undertaking sought by Assange. In any event in Sweden Assange could argue before the court that there is a manifest reason why the Extradition request should not be granted.
http://www.firmmagazine.com/features/1179/Assange_-_what%27s_going_on%3F.html