Australian Parliament Formally Opposes Assange Extradition

Ahead of a public hearing in the UK starting tomorrow, Parliament has urged the UK and US to drop extradition plans for Assange, an Australian citizen.

Protesters hold banners that read "Free Assange" outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on Nov. 14, 2016. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images

A motion calling for the return of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to Australia has passed the lower house of federal parliament by 86 votes to 42. It was supported by Labor, while most of the opposition coalition opposed the motion.

It was moved by independent MP Andrew Wilkie, who said it “will send a powerful political signal to the British government and to the U.S. government.”