Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal
Bishop Riah
“I am really shocked to hear what awaits Sheikh Dr. Mansour. This is rather absurd. Only during emergency times one hears about such actions. I
really hope that he be given the opportunity
to defend himself.”


Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal was the 13th Episcopal Bishop of Jerusalem (an episcopate covering Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon).  Riah is a world leader in human-rights activism and a staunch campaigner for peace in the Middle East.


Mairead Maguire
Mairead Maguire
“I would like to appeal to the Minister forImmigration, Mr. Chris Evans, and the Australian Government not to deport Sheikh Mansour Leghaei from Australia.

I understand that he and his family have lived
peacefully in Australia for 16 years and he is deeply respected by the Islamic Community which he serves as a Muslic Cleric.

Dr. Leghael is not only not a threat to Australian
National Security but indeed through his peaceful presence and work both within the muslim community and with other religious leaders and people, makes a great contribution to Australian society.

It is also important he is not deported as he has not been given a right to a fair hearing and his deportation would therefore be in breach of his human rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Australia is a Party.”

Máiread Corrigan-Maguire was the co-founder of the Community of Peace People, an organization which attempts to encourage a peaceful resolution of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Along with co-founder, Betty Williams, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976.


Dr Chandra Muzaffar
Dr Chandra Muzaffar
“The impending deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei is a travesty of justice. There is no doubt at all that his human rights have been violated.

Since the Australian government often champions human rights, it should not hesitate to provide the Sheikh with all the opportunities to defend himself. If the government deports him, it will only be tranishing its own image internationally.”

Dr Chandra Muzaffar is a leading Malaysian Muslim political scientist, Islamic reformist and activist. He has written extensively on civilisational dialogue, human rights, Malaysian politics and international relations. Dr Muzaffar is President of the International Movement for a Just World


.

Hans Kochler

Professor Hans Kochler
“The International Progress Organization considers the deportation order as a serious violation of Australia’s obligations under international human rights treaties which it has ratified. There can be no fair hearing of the case if the authrotities refuse to disclose the allegations against Sheikh Mansour. We appeal to the government of Australia to revoke this decision.”


Hans Köchler
is a professor of philosophy at the
University of Innsbruck, Austria, and president of the International Progress Organization, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations


norman-finkelstein-150

Dr Norman Finkelstein

“The U.N. Human Rights Committee (not to be confused with the U.N. Human Rights Council) is composed of human rights experts from around the world. Its request that Sheikh Mansour not be deported until the HRC has investigated the case should be respected by the Australian government. Otherwise, it will appear that the government wants to dispose of Sheikh Mansour before light might be cast on the veracity of the allegations against him.”

Dr Norman Finkelstein is an American political scientist and author, whose primary fields of research are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust.


Desmond Tutu

Bishop Desmond Tutu

“In South Africa we used to have detention without trial. In Australia you have deportation without trial!”


Bishop Desmond Tutu
was the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in South African and one of the leading opponents of apartheid in the 1980’s. In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and he continues to be one of the world’s leading human-rights activists and peace campaigners.

is a professor of
philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and
president of the International
Progress Organization
, a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the United Nations
Norman Finkelstein

Dr Norman Finkelstein