an update by Father Dave

It seems that the Australian Government has suddenly decided that they have more information about our deported friend, Sheikh Mansour Leghaei, that they wish to share – at least with the United Nations!

More than two years has elapsed since the deportation-with-trial of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei. Before the deportation took place, a complaint was lodged by Mansour and his family with the United Nation Human Right Committee (UNHRC), claiming that the Australian government had breached various international Human Right Conventions to which it was signatory in the way it had treated Mansour.

Various communications took at that time place between the UNHRC, the Australian government, and the legal representatives of Sheikh Mansour and his family. The case was then left with the UNHRC who informed us that it would take them 18 months to 2 years to return a decision.

With that time period now having almost fully elapsed, a ruling from the UNHRC may have been imminent except that on June 6th 2012, the Australian government wrote again to the UNHRC, claiming that it “will be lodging additional submissions in response to counsel’s comments.”

What is the Australian government up to? The correspondence gives no indication as to the nature of these ‘additional submissions’, nor does it offer any time-frame  within which it intends to lodge such submissions, nor does it provide any justification as to why such submissions should be accepted at this late stage.

It is possible that this fresh initiative on the part of the government is an indication that they are finally taking Sheikh Mansour’s case seriously. It seems far more likely to me though that this move is simply designed to stall the process and let the next government deal with the embarrassment pursuant to Australia’s flagrant violation of Sheikh Mansour’s fundamental human rights!

The legal team representing Sheikh Mansour have written to the UNHRC, objecting to the request for late submissions and asking that his case be given immediate consideration.

It’s been more than a year since Sheikh Mansour Leghaei was forced to depart Austarlia as an alleged security risk, having never been told what it was that he was supposed to have done wrong! Mansour lives quietly with his family but his friends in Australia have by no means given up on his return.

Complaints over Mansour’s treatment by the Australian government were made to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) early in  2010, but we still await a final ruling.  The Austarlian government did eventually make a response to questions posed by the UNHRC. Sheikh Mansour’s team in Australia subsequently responded to the Australian government’s response. The case is before the UNHRC and we await a final ruling with a great degree of confidence.

In the meantime questions continue to be raised about the role of ASIO in Australia. They seem to be accountable to no one – pursuing people for reasons that often prove to be completely erroneous, and making assessments of people that can destroy people’s lives but which they never have to prove.

The following 7.30 Report segement was put together by Greg Miskelly:

With the 2010 Australian Federal Election only days away, we seem to have a choice between a bad candidate and a worse candidate. You may be asking, “What’s the point of voting?”

Here’s a way in which you can make your vote count for something, regardless of who you vote for and regardless of which candidate wins. Write the words, “Justice for Sheikh Mansour” across the top of your ballot.

Writing on your ballot paper will NOT invalidate your vote unless you either write across the ballot boxes or add your name.  Avoid these mistakes and you can validly vote for whoever you like while still making a stand for justice.  The scrutineers will read your statement and report back.

Full instructions are on the campaign poster, which you see thumbnailed above-left.  Click here or the pic to open the full-size poster.  Then print off multiple copies and stick them up all over the place. Alternatively, if you’d like a smaller A5 flyer to give out to all your friends, you can grab it here.

Please get behind this campaign and make your vote count for something!

After a negative security assessment that dates back 13 years, Sheikh Mansour Leghaei has finally been told to leave the country.

Father Dave asks Mansour about his history, from his arrival in Australia to his current struggle to keep his family united.

Having submitted his formal appeal to the Minister for Immigration, Sheikh Mansour Leghaei has broken his silence and spoken openly to Lateline about his concern for his family and his ongoing hope for justice.

Sheikh Mansour’s story has been widely publicised in all the major Sydney papers this week and is gaining international attention.  Amongst other media pieces published this week:

• Sydney Morning Herald: “One last chance for cleric in ASIO’s sights“
• The Canterbury Torch and Valley Times publish “Forced Out“.
• The Australian publishes “Sheik Leghaei wins another month’s visa“
• The Leader publishes “Sheikh fights deportation after ASIO concerns“
• Sheikh Mansour and Ali are interviewed on JJJ Hack Radio
• Father Dave speaks on his relationship with Sheikh on ABC’s The Drum.

And the good news is that Sheikh Mansour has now been given an extension on his visa until the Minister for Immigration has considered his appeal.  The extension currently takes him through to the middle of April 2010