From The Age: Haneef: now for the blame game
AUSTRALIA is likely to deport Mohamed Haneef even if terror charges against him are dropped, as police and the Government move to deflect blame over the handling of the case.
Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said he had sought — and received — assurances from the Australian Federal Police that the information he had used to cancel Haneef’s visa was still valid. “My visa decision stands,” he said yesterday.
Apparently Kevin Andrews has access to some top secret information about how Dr. Mohammed Haneef is such a rotten person that we should kick him out of the country. If someone is acquitted (or the charges are dropped) as it seems likely Haneef will be, what relevant ‘criminal associations’ could possibly warrant cancelling a visa and deporting them?
This proccess needs to be open to public scrutiny before we allow the word ‘terrorism’ to terrify us all the way to a police state.
Sign The Get Up Petition: We’re afraid not
Dr Haneef, Children Overboard, Tampa, Iraq, David Hicks — the list goes on and on. We demand better from our leaders: the legitimate role of our counter-terrorism system is being undermined by the blurring of the lines between politics, justice and national security.
Mr Howard and Mr Rudd need to understand that Australians are tired of the politics of fear. Join the campaign calling on our politicians to not sacrifice the integrity of our society in the name of ’security’.
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