Terrorists and Mamdouh Habib

[Mick]

I have seen a lot on the news lately about the terrorist suspect Mamdouh Habib. For those who haven't heard, he is an Australian who was held for 3 years as a terrorist suspect and has just been released without being charged.

I certainly don't like terrorism or the people who do these acts but what I find wrong is the fact that someone can be held in custody for 3 years of their life without being charged. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? The fact that the government couldn't charge him makes me wonder why they arrested him in the first place.

Part of the reason for the war in Iraq was to get rid of Saddam who was violating peoples rights by arresting them and holding them for no reason. Oh sorry... Saddam did have a reason, i'm sure he said they were suspected of breaking the law :p

And then there is accusations of Habib being tortured in custody, the government denies it of course, but occasionally stories leak out about our governments, troops, etc mistreating their captives, so who do we believe?
It does seem at bit odd that Habib dosn't want to talk much on TV until he goes to court again, his lawyers are appealing in the courts.

I am not trying to defend Habib in any way but I do think it was wrong that he was held for 3 years without being charged. Who else could it happen to?
Like the story of the mentally ill woman(I can't think of her name) who was held in Baxter Detention centre for a few months because they thought she was an illegal immigrant. She is Australian and didn't have ID (a fake passport was what the government said) and because of her mental ilness she could not tell them who she is.

Anyway, I was wondering what everyone else thinks about this?

[Arkacia]

In fairness, it should be pointed out that he was arrested in Pakistan, taken to Guantanamo by the Americans and held there by them. While the Australian government supported the actions of the Americans, I'm not sure if protests from them would have had any effect on Mr Habib's custody, even if they'd voiced any (I can't believe I just stood up for Howard and co, boy I need a shower now :D).

The other case you mentioned is truly horrible. The woman concerned had permenant residency status in Australia, and even after her family told authorities the truth, and presented her papers as proof, they still would'nt let her go. Afraid of publically looking like the fools they are I guess. The Queensland state government has apologized publically and privatly to the family for this, but only silence so far from the other agencies involved.

[somewhatluck]

Terrorism is just a term for people who don't see it our way, and don't like the fact that we strong arm everyone else, so they hit us back the same way we attack there countries and oppress there people