Australia outraged on Haneef's immigration detention

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Melbourne, July 16: The Australian civil libertarians and minor parties slammed the decision of the Australian Immigration Department to detain Dr Mohamed Haneef after he was released on bail today.

Terms like 'outrageous' and 'appalling' have been used to describe the decision to detain Dr Haneef. The new twist to the 27-year-old doctor's tale has also hit the electronic and print media headlines.

Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrew used his powers to cancel Dr Haneef's temporary work visa on character grounds this afternoon.

The action under the Australian Migration Act came hours after Brisbane Magistrate Jacqui Payne granted him bail on a charge of providing support to terrorism.

There is a provision in the Migration Act which allows a visa to be cancelled if a person fails to meet a character test. A mere suspicion of links with a criminal or terrorist organisation can trigger such cancellation and detention.

Today's action by the Immigration authorities has invoked outrage from the civil libertarians and legal fraternity.

The Australian legal experts have expressed opinion that a legal challenge to the incarceration of the medic at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre may prove successful.

A leading human rights lawyer Greg Barns has labeled the decision to detain Dr Haneef as ''bad''.

''Mr Andrews' decision can be challenged on the grounds of bias or taking into account irrelevant considerations in making his decision - this includes political considerations,'' the former government adviser to Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been quoted as saying by the Australian media.

''It is doubtful that Mr Andrews' decision is reasonable as he suggests, given the weakness of the case against Dr Haneef and that he is (an) innocent man,'' Mr Barns further added.

The leader of Democrats senator Andrew Bartlett has gone to the extent of calling the decision as ''a perversion of the Migration Act and a clear contempt of the court.'' ''A country where justice is not allowed to take its course and the presumption of innocence is reversed on a government whim is not a democracy - it's a dictatorship,'' he said in a statement.

Cameron Murphy, the secretary of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties (ACCL), is another renowned Australian personality to launch an attack on the Immigration Minister's decision.

''The reason we have an independent court system is so these incredibly important decisions are made for the right reasons, and aren't subject to political interference," he said.


UNI

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