Julian Assange gestures as he arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, after the WikiLeaks founder was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police and taken into custody Thursday April 11, 2019. Police in London arrested WikiLeaks founder Assange at the Ecuadorean embassy Thursday, April 11, 2019 for failing to surrender to the court in 2012, shortly after the South American nation revoked his asylum .(Victoria Jones/PA via AP)
SYDNEY – Australia says it will oppose the death penalty for Julian Assange if he's extradited to the United States, as protesters in Sydney called for his release and Australia's journalists' union voiced support for him.
The Australian Wikileaks founder was arrested Thursday in London's Ecuadorian Embassy and the judge found him guilty of breaching his bail conditions. He faces a U.S. charge of conspiring to reveal government secrets.
While Prime Minister Scott Morrison says any extradition plans have "nothing to do with Australia," Foreign Minister Marise Payne has responded to fears from Assange's supporters over his possible punishment in the U.S., saying Australia is "completely opposed to the death penalty."
About 30 people marched in Sydney to support Assange and Australia's journalists' union says he's being pursued for acts of journalism.