Haneef wants Australian visa back
Indian doctor previously detained in Australia over the failed British car bomb attacks in June launched a court battle on Wednesday to win back his visa.
By Agencies |
SYDNEY: Indian doctor previously detained in Australia over the failed British car bomb attacks in June launched a court battle on Wednesday to win back his visa.
Lawyers for Mohamed Haneef told the Federal Court in Brisbane the doctor should not have failed a "character test" simply because he was related to men allegedly involved in the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow.
Haneef, 27, was working at a state hospital on Australia's Gold Coast when he was arrested on July 2 and charged with providing support to a terror group.
The case against Haneef centered on a mobile phone SIM card found in the possession of a second cousin of his who has been implicated in the attacks.
Haneef said he had merely given the card away before moving to Australia a year ago to take up the hospital job.
The case became a political issue after Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews revoked Haneef's visa, even though he was granted bail by a court, and refused to restore it after the charges were finally dropped.
Haneef, who had been detained for more than three weeks, returned to India proclaiming his innocence and his desire to get back his visa and job.
Critics accused the government of trampling on Haneef's rights in an attempt to appear tough on terrorism.
Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out an apology to Haneef and Andrews has dismissed calls for a judicial review of the case.
Haneef's appeal was adjourned until Thursday.
Lawyers for Mohamed Haneef told the Federal Court in Brisbane the doctor should not have failed a "character test" simply because he was related to men allegedly involved in the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow.
Haneef, 27, was working at a state hospital on Australia's Gold Coast when he was arrested on July 2 and charged with providing support to a terror group.
The case against Haneef centered on a mobile phone SIM card found in the possession of a second cousin of his who has been implicated in the attacks.
Haneef said he had merely given the card away before moving to Australia a year ago to take up the hospital job.
The case became a political issue after Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews revoked Haneef's visa, even though he was granted bail by a court, and refused to restore it after the charges were finally dropped.
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Haneef, who had been detained for more than three weeks, returned to India proclaiming his innocence and his desire to get back his visa and job.
Critics accused the government of trampling on Haneef's rights in an attempt to appear tough on terrorism.
Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out an apology to Haneef and Andrews has dismissed calls for a judicial review of the case.
Haneef's appeal was adjourned until Thursday.
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