Britain extraditing Julian Assange would have 'chilling effect' on media freedom

Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has written to Priti Patel, who is now considering whether the extradition can go ahead.

An image of Julian Assange projected onto a building near St Paul’s cathedral in central London earlier this year (Victoria Jones/PA)

A human rights expert is urging the British government not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, warning it would have a “chilling effect” on media freedom.

Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has written to British home secretary Priti Patel, who is now considering whether the extradition can go ahead.