Monsignor Labib Kobti is pastor of St Thomas Moore Catholic Church in San Fransisco and is a well-known human-rights advocte, particularly well-known for his advocacy work in the Middle East.  He is founder and director of Al-Bushra.org.

I, as a person from the Middle East, I know better than anybody what Islam is. Although I know that there are a lot of fanatic Muslim people, I found in the Sheikh a moderate one that can be used to be a bridge between the fanatic and the moderate. He can help Australia for the best.

Throwing out the good people is a lack of wisdom from the part of the Government. In the Middle East I found also a lot of fanatic Jewish who impose themselves on the governments and especially on the US Congress and Senate. I am sure that they do the same in Australia, they do it every where in the world.  I saw also Christian fanatics, like the Christian who call themselves Evangelical Zionists.

Treating all the same way that we treat the good Sheikh can show that we are working the same justice for all. Treating only the Muslims this weird way and forgetting or forgiving the others is racism against one group.

Msgn. Labib Kobti

Monday, May 17th – the Minister for Immigration, Mr Chris Evans, decided NOT to intervene in Sheikh Mansour’s deportation process, choosing rather to hide behind the ageing negative security assessment that goes back to 2004.

The Sheikh’s support team, when they announced their disappointment with the Minister’s decision, mentioned too that the United Nations Human Right Committe had already written to the Australian government, asking them NOT to deport Sheikh Mansour until they could take a good look at his case and assess whether his funamental human rights had been violated by the Australian government in the way they handled the case!

Thus far the Minister has shown no indication that he is considering complying with the UN’s request!

The following major newspapers took up the story:

• Deportation of sheikh puts Australia at odds with the UN (Rick Fenely, Sydney Morning Herald)
• Iranian cleric loses battle to stay (James Madden, The Australian)
• Deporting sheikh would breach human rights ( Sarah Gerathy, ABC News)

The story was also picked up by the following TV media:

• SBS 9.30pm news:

• 10 News:

• ABC News