The first Australian accused of training with a terrorist organisation on Wednesday lost his latest bid to have the charges against him dropped. | “The applicant's argument that the Commonwealth Parliament has no power to enact legislation proscribing the killing of foreign citizens by members of a foreign organisation on foreign territory must be rejected by this court...” |
Pakistan-born medical student Izharul Haq was charged with intentionally receiving combat and weapons training from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan in 2003, a militant group banned under Australia's counter-terrorism laws.
On Wednesday, Izhar lost an appeal before the New South Wales state Court of Criminal Appeal seeking to overturn the charge. He argued that Australia had no authority to pass laws concerning criminal acts committed overseas. "The applicant's argument that the Commonwealth Parliament has no power to enact legislation proscribing the killing of foreign citizens by members of a foreign organisation on foreign territory must be rejected by this court," Justice McClellan said in the court's unanimous 3-0 judgment. "If it is to be reconsidered this must be done in the High Court." A trial date for Izhar will be fixed on Sept 1, but he could still seek leave to appeal this decision in the High Court, Australia's highest judicial body. |