Guilty until proved innocent by Claudia Sonea

It's the twist of the cliché used in law process. Mohammed Haneef, an Indian doctor, was detained by the Australian police for suspicion of terrorism and his working visa has been canceled. Kevin Andrews, Australian Immigration Minister, despite the fact that he had no evidence of the doctor's participation in the failed bomb attacks in London and Glasgow at the end of June, continued to maintain his suspicions because Dr Haneef failed character test and associated with alleged criminals like Kafeel Ahmed and Saleel Ahmed, suspects named in the attacks. The association, although it is somewhat controversial, it is based on the fact that they are relatives; the suspects are distant cousins on his mother's side. All charges against him were dropped, but his visa was still canceled, therefore Haneef will fight back because he needs the visa, mostly for practical reasons. The lawyers defending him said that the immigration laws were misused and applied only to keep him behind bars. Immigration minister has wide-ranged powers and the appeal could be rejected. However, Justice Jeffrey Spender, the federal court judge hearing the case is not at all satisfied of Minister Andrew's methods and thinks that he too would have failed the test because he defended criminals when he worked as a barrister. Moreover, the defendant admitted to have relations with the suspects and did not deny he came in contact with them during his stay in London, but he strongly states he had not been involved in any terrorist activity. His interview gave to the Australian police is printed in Australian and Indian newspapers, after being released on the Internet. What will happen next? Stay connected!

related story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6936191.stm

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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