The founder of controversial online whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is to appear before a British court Monday in a hearing to determine whether or not he will be extradited to Sweden for questioning regarding sexual misconduct allegations.

Assange's team of lawyers are fighting the possibility of extradition, saying that such a move could lead to Assange's eventual extradition to the United States, where Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Justice Department are considering possible prosecution under the Espionage Act.

Such a move could result in detention in Guantanano Bay or even the use of the death penalty, say Assange's lawyers.  A document they released to the press read:

“There is a real risk that, if extradited to Sweden, the U.S. will seek his extradition and/or illegal rendition to the USA, where there will be a real risk of him being detained at Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere."

Assange has not been formally charged with anything in Sweden, and he insists that he can be questioned remotely in Britain.

The two-day hearing is to be held in the high-security Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in London.

Reach Executive Producer Mary Slosson here.  Follow her on Twitter @maryslosson.