I was wondering if the same would have happened if he was a British os US citizen instead of asian/Indian. The charge is of having left a SIM card with his cousins while leaving UK(which many does when they have lots of contaracted period remaining on the card).I he had any knowledge of this card being used for terrorist activity or not is upto the legal system to determine. It is unfair that the Australian immigration minister brought in such a childish ploy to tap on the public's general anti-asian senetments in the aftermath of any terrorist incident, same as UK police trying repeatedly to get 6 months to question suspects without trial. At the same time one should note how two british girls arrested with drugs in possession in Ghana last week are potrayed in UK as innocent victims of international drug barons and are being visited by the bristish consular officials regularly. The Indian government should make its presence felt by ensuring a fair trial and finding the truth, rather than giving up on its citizens because they are accused by western powers of terrorist activity.Remember, all fair legal systems consider suspects innocent untill proven guilty and some sane thought of justice should be left behind even in this period of world wide terrorism.Otherwise there will be no difference between what terrorists do and what civilised societies do.Both will continue to invoke hatred.
RE:visa revoked
by Kaushik Das on Jul 16, 2007 04:32 PM Permalink
It is for this purpose itself that SIMs are non-transferrrable. Thus, it is still haneef's fault only. Can you give your passport to your cousin and then claim you didn't know he would use it?
RE:visa revoked
by Lekha Menon on Jul 16, 2007 04:21 PM Permalink
well said. Totally agree with you. If Haneef is guilty, convict him by all means! But at least prove his guilt! Put him under survellance, keep tabs on his activities (it shouldnt' be difficult)...but it is unfair to detain him on flimsy charges! That's Western justice for you. Anyway, even if he is innocent, this stigma will haunt him for ever. Will he ever be able to lead a normal life? And his innocent, new born baby? C'mon the baby is no terrorist or friend of terrorist, is it? The fanatics of the world (white as well as brown), will never allow him to lead a peaceful life again. Which, if he is truly innocent, is a very sad thing to happen.
RE:RE:visa revoked
by Kaushik Das on Jul 16, 2007 04:54 PM Permalink
Well, western justice is much better than indian justice system. They know he is a terrorist, so they screwed him. In india, by now, he would have claimed celebrity status by saying he is being framed because he is a muslim, and follow up with fighting the next elections and probably winning on the votes of his "islam in danger" kind of indian muslims.
RE:visa revoked
by asdf aa on Jul 16, 2007 04:13 PM Permalink
Unfortunately, freedom of speech is part of democratic traditions of India.We were told to shut up by British empire a long time ago,but we managed to throw them out 60 yeras ago, that too without blowing up their tube trains/airports.We will fight for justice till Haneef is proven guilty, because he is Indian, what ever his religion is.
RE:RE:visa revoked
by Kaushik Das on Jul 16, 2007 04:52 PM Permalink
No, we will not fight for a terrorist, because he is a muslim terrorist, whatever his country is. He is already getting justice.
RE:visa revoked
by Julian Martyn on Jul 16, 2007 03:59 PM Permalink
I do agree with this. Haneef was tried first, since there was pressure from Human Rights groups asking the govt to release him as he was innocent, the Australian govt brought the case and when his appeal was heard and accepted, not knowing what to do, the Australian govt revolked his visa in Australia.
Will this be done to any other person in the world.
What action should our Indian govt take for those who cause crimes against innocent people especially child sex in tourist places, are they taken to task
RE:RE:visa revoked
by Kaushik Das on Jul 16, 2007 04:50 PM Permalink
Well, that is nothing compared to the millions killed by muslims with money from oil in iraq and other places. What about the killings of the taliban? Is that non-significant because they are muslims? What US did in afghanistan is correct and justified. Not so for iraq, although saddam himslef killed more than tens of thousands of kurds. What is palestine? Isn't that the holy land mentioned in Bible, the jewish book written centuries before mohd came up with the quran? Aren't the muslims the ones killing jews in palestine / israel?
RE:visa revoked
by Anurag Shrivastava on Jul 16, 2007 04:02 PM Permalink
Imran - most of these killings are sectarian killings - Shias vs Sunnis vs Kurds.
RE:visa revoked
by Moo Glee on Jul 16, 2007 04:06 PM Permalink
US didnot kill thousands, it is Sunni Iraqis killing hundreds daily. Wake up and read news, you know who are the killers.
RE:visa revoked
by asdf aa on Jul 16, 2007 03:59 PM Permalink
well, then news for you, the london tube bombers were british citizens.Also, the shoe bomber is a white bristish male.Muslim terroists dont have any country sentements.They will kill all citizens with same glee.It is time the world realises that and stop focusing on countries and focus on muslim terrorists.The moderate islamic community themselves need to get actively involved in formulating a reporting helpline for its youngsters to report on abnormal activities taking place in their vicinity/ among friend.
RE:RE:visa revoked
by Gainers on Jul 16, 2007 03:59 PM Permalink
i FEEL hanif is really a innocent pawn, having left his sim card with siblings is not a terrorism unless he is truely involved to help culprits, i believe Indian Government should interfere to find out the truth...IF HE IS INVOLVED IN ANY SUCH ACTIVITIES, LET HIM SUFFER BUT IF INNOCENTLY INVOLVED AS JUST BEING A COUSINE OF THOSE TERRORISTS, HE SHOULD BE ASSISTED...HE IS AN INDIAN AND INDIAN SHOULD NOT SUFFER FOR NOTHING WRONG...IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY