The Hindu : Front Page : ‘I would have disclosed had I known anything’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 30, 2007
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‘I would have disclosed had I known anything’

It’s not in my nature to ever support or be involved in terror activities, says Haneef

The arrest has ignited concerns about Australia’s new counterterrorism laws
If we had let him go, we would have been accused of letting a terrorist escape: Keelty

Melbourne:

Dr. Haneef said he was never a risk to Australia and was looking forward to spending time with his wife and daughter, born days before his arrest at the Brisbane airport on July 2.

He acknowledged visiting his cousin, Kafeel Ahmed, in 2004, but said they never lived together. “Sometimes he used to come to our place, and we had family trips throughout the U.K. actually,” he said. But he had not known Kafeel held radical views and had been startled to learn of his involvement in the bombing plot.

“Scared of terrorist tag”

“I couldn’t really believe that someone from my family ... would do such a thing,” Dr. Haneef said, adding that he was scared to be labelled a “terrorist” after his family member’s involvement in terrorist activities. “If I knew anything, definitely, I would have let the authorities [know], let their parents know first — who are the main sufferers now I suppose.”

Dr. Haneef said he was frightened when he was arrested by two investigating officers at the airport. He was asked all sorts of questions on his personal and financial details, and also if he had ever been to Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.

“They [the investigators] were assuming things. They had bits and pieces of information,” he said when asked about the investigations he faced.

Dr. Haneef maintained that he did send money to clear his personal loans in the U.K., and not to fund any terrorist activity. However, he expressed happiness and relief to be out of jail, and said he felt great and was thankful to God for restoring his honour.

Despite his ordeal of four weeks in custody, Dr. Haneef said he was optimistic of returning to Australia to pursue his medical career. “I would, even after I go back to India, I might think about coming back here,” he said in the interview, recorded before his departure from Brisbane. “It’s just a matter of my visa to be sorted out.”

Asked why he was leaving Australia now, he said, “I have to live with my family now. I’ve had enough trauma now.”

Thanks people

During a stopover in Bangkok, he told mediapersons that it was good to be free and thanked the Australian people for their support during his ordeal, according to the ABC news channel. - PTI

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