Bangalore: Dr Haneef Wants Apology, Visa Back
Herald Sun
Pic: Aakash Polali - Daijiworld Exclusive
Bangalore, Jul 30: THE Indian doctor detained for more than three weeks in Australia on false terrorism-related charges vowed overnight to "fight" to have his visa restored so he could return to work in the country.
Mohamed Haneef, 27, also demanded the Australian authorities apologise to India over the affair, and did not rule out taking legal action.
"I would like to return to Australia, I would like my visa back, I will fight for that," the former Gold Coast Hospital registrar said in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, his hometown.
"I enjoyed my time working at the Gold Coast Hospital and am saddened that until my visa has been returned that I am unable to return and work as a doctor there," said the medic, who was calm but visibly angered over his ordeal.
Dr Haneef was held in custody for almost four weeks and charged with providing "reckless" support to a terrorist group in connection with last month's failed car bombings in London and Glasgow.
But the case against him collapsed on Friday due to a lack of evidence.
A day later he was allowed to fly home to Bangalore, where he was reunited with his wife and saw his one-month-old baby for the first time.
Dr Haneef's Australian lawyer, Peter Russo, earlier reshadowed legal action for damages to the doctor's reputation, but when asked if he intended to sue the Australian Government over his ordeal, Dr Haneef replied: "I have not sought any legal advice on this matter at this time; that will be later on."
"I don't expect an apology from the Australian government or the authorities, but I would appreciate if they apologise to my peace-loving country and citizens," he said.
Asked if he felt he had been victimised as an Asian Muslim, Dr Haneef replied: "There might be an element of that.
"Islam narrates peace and love and nothing else. I am a true Islam follower."
Prime Minister John Howard had earlier dismissed calls for an inquiry into the bungled case and said the Muslim medic should not expect an apology.
Mr Howard said that when it came to preventing attacks, it was "better to be safe than sorry".
And he stood by his immigration minister's decision to cancel Dr Haneef's visa on character grounds, saying he was acting on "secret information".
The minister, Kevin Andrews, said he was keen to release the information but was consulting the commonwealth solicitor-general on whether he could do so.
Meanwhile, Dr Haneef's lawyer has launched action in the Federal Court of Australia to have his visa restored.
Mr Russo, who accompanied his client back to India, said Haneef had endured an ordeal that was "difficult to comprehend".
"I found him to be a very humble and honest man and it gave me a great deal of honour and pleasure to assist him," Mr Russo said.
He said his client had cooperated fully with police, and even took the initiative to contact British authorities before his arrest.
Dr Haneef owned a mobile phone SIM card allegedly used in last month's attempted attacks in Britain. The doctor said he had given the card away in Britain before moving to Australia to work.
"He was detained without charge for up to 12 days, and I know that in different countries that isn't regarded as a big issue, but in Australia we have a system that says that shouldn't happen," Mr Russo said.
Calls have mounted in Australia for an inquiry into the Haneef case after police were described as bumbling Keystone Cops over their handling of the investigation.
But Mr Russo said Australian police were merely "like everyone in the world; there's good ones and there's bad ones".
He said he had a "strong case" to get Dr Haneef his visa back.
"We really need to restore his reputation," Mr Russo said. "The problem that we have in relation to whether or not we sue the (Australian) Government ... we haven't had the opportunity to sit down so that he can be fully informed of what all of his legal rights are."
Dr Haneef said: "I need a little time to think; I want to spend my time with my family at this time and see how it goes."
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