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Australian terror suspect asks for passport return
| "An' I want me gun back, too, dammit!" |
Australian terror suspect Mamdouh Habib has applied for the return of his passport, which was cancelled by the Australian government after he was released from US detention. Habib's lawyer, Stephen Hopper, said on Friday the Eygptian-born father-of-four, who arrived home a week ago, had applied to the Security Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for his passport to be returned. "We say ... our client is innocent of any wrongdoing and is unlikely to pose a threat to Australia's national security or the national security of another nation," Hopper told Reuters.
| Sure, he can have it back ... but he's got to go to Mauritania. And stay there. |
"It's his right as an Australian citizen to have a passport so he can be free to travel if and when he chooses." A spokeswoman for Attorney General Philip Ruddock said Habib's passport had been cancelled following an adverse security assessment. She said the government was aware Habib was seeking the return of his passport.
Dear Sir,
We are in receipt of your letter of the 18th instant.
Sincerely,
Philip Ruddock |
Ruddock said last week Habib's travel would be restricted as the United States had an expectation that Australia would prevent his involvement in militant activity. Australia has said Habib would not be investigated as it was not a crime in Australia to be involved with al Qaeda in 2001 but he was still regarded as a security concern and would be kept under strict surveillance.
Posted by: Steve White 2005-02-04 |
