Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Haneef’s release

The Australian government seems to have found a scapegoat in Mohammed Haneef, since it needs to pin down someone in its war on terror. At one time, Jews were treated with suspicion. It is now the turn of Muslims whose ordeal has just begun. It is well known that racial discrimination is still prevalent in Australia. It is heartening that the media and intellectuals of Australia condemned their government’s action and frustrated its attempts to victimise an innocent person.

Palanki Balakrishna,
Hyderabad

The drama that unfolded in the wake of Dr. Haneef’s detention exposed Australia’s political compulsions. Hopefully, the case will reinforce the fact that Muslims as a community do not support terrorism. As for the Muslims worldwide, this case should demonstrate that independent media are working for upholding civil liberty and preventing violation of human rights.

Mushtaqh Ali,
Chennai

Australian Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews’ stand that nothing has changed and Dr. Haneef’s working visa will not be restored smacks of arrogance. Mr. Andrews has a lot to explain not just to India but also to his fellow countrymen who opposed Dr. Haneef’s detention.

B. Harish,
Mangalore

Dr. Haneef’s case has proved right what I was taught in school — that there is something called natural justice and there are a million good hearts for every evil heart.

Mohammed Anwar,

Chennai

I was shocked to hear Dr. Haneef demanding an apology from the Australian authorities. In fact, the Australians ought to be praised for dropping the charges within three weeks of his detention. The circumstances that led to his detention were quite serious. The police cannot let a person off just because he claims to be innocent. I shudder to think of what would have happened to him had he been arrested on terror charges in India. It would have taken several years for him to be cleared.

Ramamurthy Janga,

Chennai

There is no doubt that Dr. Haneef deserves our sympathy. But it is also true that the investigating authorities did what was expected of them. We are happy that he has been released. But to give him the post of a senior government surgeon is uncalled for. Are all persons cleared of criminal charges on foreign soil offered a government job? People holding high offices would do well not to get carried away by media hysteria.

B.N. Gangadhar,

Bangalore

Dr. Haneef was detained on reasonable suspicion and evidence provided by the British police. After a prolonged and thorough enquiry, he was released. He was treated well while in detention and given access to everything permissible under the law. What then is all the fuss about?

The media conducted a parallel trial to prove that Dr. Haneef was innocent. They should have limited their role to reporting the facts of the case. As for granting a visa, it is the privilege of a host country. A person applying for a visa has no right to it.

K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai

The prosecution in Australia can be faulted for being overzealous but it was nowhere near the Americans, who have been holding hundreds of terror suspects without charge for years. Unlike the U.S. where the media were palpably silent on the rights of terror suspects for years, Australians across the spectrum came out in support of the doctor as they felt that the prosecution had been unfair to him. The government, in turn, reviewed his case and released him.

R. Narayanan,
Ghaziabad

While we sympathise with Dr. Haneef, we cannot blame the Australian police who only erred on the side of caution. They deserve to be praised for realising their mistake and releasing the doctor.

N. Nageswaran,
Chennai

One of those arrested in connection with the failed terror attacks in Glasgow and London was in possession of a mobile phone with a SIM card whose owner was Dr. Haneef. What was wrong in his being taken into custody for interrogation? Once the Australian police found that the SIM card was not used in the attacks, they released him. The media have given disproportionate coverage to the matter. Was Dr. Haneef a freedom fighter to be accorded a hero’s welcome?

R.S. Shanmuganathan,
Sullurpeta

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