Reacting to the news of his release, she said it proved he was innocent. “We are all very happy and are waiting for his early return,” the young mother said. Soon after speaking on the phone to her husband and her cousin Imran Siddiqui (who has gone to Australia to coordinate matters), she said: “I am relieved. I spoke to him just now and he was having his dinner. All he would talk about was our daughter, Hania. I cannot express my joy and I thank the whole Indian community, the Union Government and the Australian human rights activists for all this.” Asked about the Australian authorities having “conditionally freed” Dr. Haneef from custody and released him into “residential detention,” Ms. Firdous said: “Now he is at home with my cousin. I can at least speak to him whenever I want and rest assured that he is safe. I thank Allah...”

She exuded confidence that her husband would come home in a few days. She said she did not know whether he would settle down in India or wish to work abroad again.

Friday was celebration time for Dr. Haneef’s family. Elated over the release, the emotionally drained family spent the day offering thanksgiving prayers. “We are reciting verses from the Koran and offering Shukrana namaaz, thanking Allah.”

Ms. Firdous, whose husband still has not seen their month-old baby, expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee for intervening and helping the family. She appealed to them to get her husband’s visa restored. “I do not want him to be deported. He should return with honour.”

At their No 1 Daffodil’s Regency residence on Rogers Road in Richards Town, Dr. Haneef’s brother Mohammed Shuaib and sister Sumaiyya participated in the celebration. The family members, who spent weeks in agony and were cooped up indoors, mingled with their neighbours and distributed sweets. “We are very happy and my brother will be back with us soon,” Ms. Sumaiyya said.

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