Julian Assange has been moved to a medical wing in Belmarsh prison over concerns for his "significantly deteriorated" health, WikiLeaks has claimed.

The website said there are "grave concerns" for its founder as he has "dramatically lost weight" during his seven weeks in prison, and his condition has made it difficult for him to talk.

The group quoted defence lawyer Per Samuelson as saying after a meeting last week: "it was not possible to conduct a normal conversation with him".

It added: "The decision of prison authorities to move him to the health ward speaks for itself."

Last month, Mr Assange was arrested in London for breaching conditions of bail dating back to 2012.


He was pictured being dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy, where he had spent the last seven years on an asylum claim. Days later he was sentenced to 50 weeks in prison

The 47-year-old had initially sought refuge with the South American nation for fears he would be extradited to Sweden to face charges of rape and sexual assault, and later to the US over the hacking of classified documents concerning Afghanistan and Iraq.

Swedish prosecutors dropped the case in 2017, but reopened it after Mr Assange's arrest last month.

Assange skateboards in Ecuadorean embassy

Last week, the US confirmed 17 new charges against the WikiLeaks founder, including allegations of espionage.

Mr Assange was expected to appear via video-link for a formal hearing on a US extradition request at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier today, but was unable to do so because of his health.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot confirmed with Mr Assange's lawyer that the Australian was "not very well", before postponing the hearing to 12 June.

She said the location of the postponed hearing could also be moved to Belmarsh, which "may be more convenient for everyone".

Among the supporters of Mr Assange gathered at the court on Thursday was Bafta-winning documentary maker John Pilger, who said he had visited the 47-year-old recently.

Speaking of his friend, Mr Pilger said: "He needs a great deal of diagnostic care and rehabilitation. He's gone through an extraordinary physical and mental ordeal. And now he's having to go through this."

"This is so shameful," he added. "So shameful that we are even here today to consider the extradition of a journalist for trying to protect his sources."

In the hours before the hearing, WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said Mr Assange's case had become a "black stain on history".

He said: "Julian's case is of major historic significance. It will be remembered as the worst attack on press freedom in our lifetime."