Australian Govt ordered to reveal secret security assessments
Congratulations to Scott Parkin (pictured), Mohammed Sagar and Muhammed Faisal, who today won their bid to find out what the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has against them. The Federal Court has decided that they are entitled to know the reason why, in Parkin’s case, he was thrown out of the country, and in the case of Sagar and Faisal, why they have been refused entry to Australia despite acceptance of their refugee claims. Sagar remains detained in Nauru while Faisal is in psychiatric care in Brisbane after making an attempt on his own life after 3 years on the Pacific Island.
Anne Gooley, lawyer for the two Iraqis, points out that this joint legal action on behalf of 3 foreigners has ramifications for Australians. How can we ensure justice is done without access to the evidence, argues Cameron Murphy of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties.
Meanwhile, government Senator Barnaby Joyce has publicly condemned the injustice of Australian David Hicks’ continued detention by the US at Guantánamo Bay and has called for his return. The Law Council of Australia agrees, describing the issue as a "no-brainer"; the new military commissions intended to try Hicks for unknown crimes are "grossly unfair". Australia has failed to take action to defend Hicks, despite evidence of violations of rights including habeas corpus and freedom from torture.
The Australian Government could appeal the Parkin, Sagar and Faisal decision to the High Court, but has yet to announce its intentions.
Hooray! Some of my faith in the Australian justice system has been restored. I hope and pray that this means Sagar and Faisal are closer to resettlement in Australia as refugees.
[…] Iraqi refugee Mohammed Sagar, the last person detained by Australia on the island of Nauru, is to swap Pacific heat for Nordic sleet — and freedom. Despite winning a court order forcing the Australian Government to reveal why he is still imprisoned after more than five years despite acceptance by Australia of his refugee claims, Sagar has been offered asylum by an unnamed Scandinavian country. […]
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Watch this 15-minute video on Parkin’s detention and deportation from Australia and what he has managed to discover in the interim, posted on Indymedia Ireland on 17 June 2008: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88028