LONDON: Foreign minister of Australia says remains “completely opposed” to the death penalty amid fears that Australian native could be exposed to such punishment if he is extradited to the United States.
Australian consular officials plan to visit the founder in a jail on Friday a day after he was arrested at the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had been holed up for nearly seven years.
For now, he faces a single computer conspiracy charge in the US that does not carry the death penalty, but his supporters fear more serious charges may be brought later.
Payne said on Friday that the UK had sought assurances from the US that Assange would not be exposed to the death penalty.
Assange plans to fight extradition, but Australian leaders have indicated they wouldn’t intervene.