Australia's witch hunt comes home to roost

[mr friendly guy]

Remember the story of Dr Mohamed Haneef? This foreign doctor was working in Australia one of many foreign doctors we rely upon for our health system. Following the failed terrorist attacks in Scotland Australian authorities accused him to helping the terrorists (Haneef's cousin was one of them and he lived with the man prior while in the UK). Hilarity ensures.

Lets start with the best charge we could come up with. Its lending a SIM card to the terrorist. Note we don't even bother to say he knew his cousin was planning a terrorist attack, just that he lent him a SIM card, which we claim had money on it and since Haneef was moving out of the UK he gave it to his cousin. So hypothetically if I gave money to some guy asking for loose change to catch a bus, could I be charged with helping a terrorist if he turns out to be one? But it gets better. You see, this SIM card was made up. HE NEVER LENT ANYTHING TO THE TERRORIST.

British authorities had already cleared him, but no, we knew better. Eventually even the Australian Federal police concluded he didn't do anything wrong. But that didn't stop the fucking racist Liberal government. Why the government held him without charge longer than usual and then the wanker immigration minister Kevin Andrews used his disgression to deport him. One would expect to seriously affect his livelihood and ability to support his family. Note he was working as a neurological registrar at the time. IIRC the Queensland health system at the time paid doctors quite competitive rates matching that of the other mining state WA, where I work. Lets just say as a registrar the renumeration with overtime can reach six figures.

One must understand this in the context of an Australian election coming up. The reigning prime minister John Howard had played the race card before. He did it with the Tampa crisis, gave us the "children overboard" scandal and WMDs in Iraq when deciding to involve us in another military adventure with the Americans. Polls suggested an ALP landslide, so this is par on the course for the Liberals. Arrest an Indian doctor, who also happens to be TEH EVEL MUSLIM and persecute him to look "tough" on terrorists.

Didn't work and Kevin Andrews and John Howard both lost their jobs. However Haneef was left hanging, with a cloud of "terrorist" over his head and forced to seek employment elsewhere. Now he is back, and the current government has agreed to compensate him for this injustice.

linky

Dr Mohamed Haneef to receive substantial payout

* By Jessica Marszalek
* From: AAP
* December 21, 2010 7:10PM

AN Indian doctor wrongly held in custody over terrorism allegations will receive a "substantial" and confidential payout from the federal government.

Dr Mohamed Haneef returned to Australia last week to seek compensation after he was wrongfully accused of terrorist links and held in prison in July 2007.

The compensation claim, described by his lawyers as unique in Australian legal history, also sought damages for lost earnings, the interruption to his medical career, damage to his reputation and emotional stress.

Dr Haneef was taken into custody and charged with recklessly giving support to a terrorist organisation when his mobile phone SIM card was linked to an attack in Britain in 2007.

The charges were later dropped as prosecutors admitted bungling the case, and an independent inquiry cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Dr Haneef and his lawyers completed two days of talks with the commonwealth government in Brisbane today that will see legal action against former immigration minister Kevin Andrews dropped.

"Part of the agreement is that the parties not discuss the details of the settlement," Dr Haneef's lawyer Rod Hodgson told reporters as he left the meeting with the Indian-born doctor.

"Although I can say that Dr Haneef will receive a substantial compensation."

Dr Haneef said he looked forward to putting the past behind him now, and possibly returning to his old workplace, the Gold Coast Hospital.

"`I'm very pleased and happy with the resolution of this matter," he told reporters with his wife and three-year-old daughter behind him.

"My wrongful arrest and detention in 2007 was a very traumatic experience and today's settlement is a chance to end that part of my life and move on with my family."

He said the outcome would help him re-establish his career and reputation.

"My family and I are enjoying our visit in Australia, especially seeing our dear friends here, and we look forward to possibly returning to Australia one day."

Dr Haneef thanked his friends and supporters in Australia and India who had been a "great source of strength" throughout the ordeal.

The mediation process was chaired by former judge Tony Fitzgerald QC.

Good for him. Now excuse me as I join in the act of pissing on Howard's "legacy." I just wish the Chaser ambushes Kevin Andrews and do several skits mocking him. I suggest one where Andrews is deported on made up charges, like lending money to a bum who turns out to be a terrorist.

[Stark]

LAZARUS RISING!

Since this was really a skilled manipulation of public attitudes, I'd be surprised if this got the nigh-constant airplay the original story did on Today Tonight. I mean, as much as its unbelievable that Howard would play on public fears to ensure his control, but maybe that's... ok he did it all the time.

[mr friendly guy]

an Indian newspaper has claimed he is awarded $1 million

However given the confidential nature of the agreement, I wouldn't read too much into it. What is striking is that various people posting on that news thread says that $1 million isn't enough. Depending on the overtime Haneef should be pulling in six figures as a registrar, and was only 28 when these fake charges came up. Anyone can do the maths and consider if this even covers his financial renumeration, not to mention more subjective things like having his named dragged through the mud.

[weemadando]

Wait, aren't you forgetting the part where they found a diary at his place with notes in it that referenced the attack and the other terrorists, only for it to come out that the police had written said notes in the diary after taking it as evidence.

This case was pretty much what also destroyed Mick Keelty's career and reputation. Not to mention the reputation of a good chunk of the AFP due to either incompetence or willingness to be used as a political tool (take your pick about which is worse).

[Chris OFarrell]

I remember when ASIO did their investigation and came up with a report of something along the lines of 'we see no threat in regards to Dr Haneef, or any connection to any domestic or international terrorist organization' thinking...no, KNOWING that the Government would refuse to back down, they would find SOME grounds to keep insisting he was a terrorist.

And they did, in the Australian Federal Police, who lied through their teeth the whole way through. Oh and constant vauge references to MI5 reports that can't be shown to the public for 'security' reasons...

I will at least say this for the matter; there was preaty quickly a growing chorus of 'This is BS' from various groups in Australia over the whole matter, including from the political side of things. Peter Beties sock went up quite a bit during the matter as I recall, all of this in stark contrast to the blissful way we leapt into Iraq...