London’s High Court has scheduled two days of hearings to determine whether Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, can appeal against the United States’ request for his extradition on espionage charges. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 175 years, but Assange’s wife, Stella, has expressed concerns about his declining health, both physically and mentally, and the potential risk to his life if he remains in prison or is extradited. Assange’s legal team plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if the decision goes against him. The US government has continued to seek his extradition despite a British judge ruling against it in January 2021 due to concerns about Assange’s mental condition and the risk of suicide. The charges against Assange stem from the publication of classified US military documents on WikiLeaks in 2010. Supporters argue that his case is significant for press freedom and investigative journalism.