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| Britain |
| UK plans new challenge to Hicks |
| 2006-04-12 |
| THE UK Home Office intends to appeal against a court decision allowing Australian Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks the right to British citizenship. In London last night, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the terror suspect, supporting last December's High Court judgment that the UK government cannot refuse to register Hicks' citizenship, which he is entitled to because his mother was born and raised in England. The Home Office has until April 25 to lodge a fresh appeal to the House of Lords - via the Court of Appeal - with a decision expected in early May. If that is denied, the Home Office then has the option of directly petitioning the House of Lords for a hearing, which would be held late this year or early 2007 if granted. Adelaide-born Hicks, 30, has been held by US authorities at Guantanamo Bay since he was captured with Taliban forces in Afghanistan in late 2001. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit war crimes, attempted murder and aiding and abetting the enemy. He has sought British citizenship because the UK government, unlike Australia, has successfully fought for the release of its nationals from Guantanamo Bay. His father Terry said the Court of Appeals decision is pleasing, but there is still a long road ahead. "I was certainly pleased, certainly," Terry Hicks said last night. "I think it's a positive step but, as I say, I think there's a long way to go yet." Mr Hicks said he suspected the government would appeal to the House of Lords, but was hopeful of a similarly favourable decision there. "I think their outlook is a lot different from the actual government and they might look at David's case and think that four years is too long (in Guantanamo Bay without conviction)." Terry Hicks said his son was most likely oblivious to the development and would not know of it for about three weeks, when his lawyers are able to visit to tell him. Terry Hicks said his son was most likely oblivious to the development and would not know of it for about three weeks, when his lawyers are able to visit to tell him. Hicks' US military lawyer, Major Michael Mori, said Hicks would never renounce his Australian citizenship and he did not believe a dual citizenship would harm his client. "I just wish the British government would get on with it and go down to Guantanamo and formalise David's citizenship," Major Mori told ABC Television. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |