The Mohammed Haneef episode has slipped rapidly from a tragedy to a farce. Arrested in the wake of the failed attack on Glasgow Airport for the cardinal sin of lending his SIM card to his cousin Sabeel Ahmed, whose bother Kafeel Ahmed drove the jeep, the case has become a disgraceful demonstration of how India protects its citizens abroad.
Even as the Indian government and its diplomats have watched, Dr Haneef has become a pawn in Australia’s politics in the name of the “War on Terror”. Given bail after being detained for a fortnight, he has been stripped of his visa, threatened to be deported, labelled a “terrorist”, and has now been condemned to solitary confinement for 23 out of 24 hours a day.
In all the time, the Secular Republic of India has looked on haplessly as a citizen of its soil has been deprived of his civil liberties, robbed of his freedom and human rights, and humiliated by having his “character” questioned. India’s meek response threatens the wellbeing of its citizens in every part of the globe.
Today it is Haneef, tomorrow it could be any one of us.
It is now time to send a strong diplomatic signal that India will not tolerate any further circumcision of its citizens’ rights without clinching evidence being provided that Dr Haneef has a stronger, deeper involvement than has been made public. The Indian high commissioner to Australia should be recalled to show that India is one with Mohammed Haneef.
Also read: I would fail character test: Haneef judge
A look at sequence of events looks like Australia is desperate to hold Haneef back on some ground or other however flimsy it might be. The way it has behaved so far, its hard to believe the there is a rule of law in Australia..looks like its a banana republic.
Haneef is an Indian and the Govt of India must stand up for the rights of its citizen who is being subjected to such hash of law. India must do whatever it takes to tell Australia that it is trampling on rights and dignities of an Indian citizen.
People , human rights activists are protesting in Australia but there seems to no such noises in India. Forget people, even govt seems to doing precious little. What image does its portray about India and Indians
What would have Australia done if India treated an Australian like the way they are treating Haneef ?
When it comes to protecting its citizens, both India – from terrorists and abroad, the UPA govt record is shit.
he is being framed sought to be detailed
As I said earlier in one of my posts, I would love to see a white Australian/ American or British citizen getting the same “Haneef-treatment” in a different country.
I would love to see the reactions from those leaders who act ‘tough on terrorism’!!
It, still, doesn’t excuse the Indian Govt’s pathetic response in Haneef’s case!
I thought that this government was incapable in handling internal issues. Now I realise that it is incapable of handling external issues even when an Indian citizens basic human rights are being taken away. Shame on our PM. It’s a disgrace to the country in our 60th year of independence.
There is no basis on which the Australian govt called him a ‘Terrorist”. And our govt is not even asking questions but just trying to be the nice country and making a statement that ‘Haneef’s should be dealt fairly’.
India will not become a great country by just growing economically. It also should stand up to its citizen and defend them fiercely if required. That’s when we will be recognised as a true great power
Australia or USA is not India –which handed over Bleach to UK under coercion[ NDA ] and provided Briyani to terrorists who abducted Mufti’s Daughter [ VP SINGH Government] and the Foregin minster accompanied Terrorists to Afganistan [ NDA ] and which cannot get the murderer[ Nadim] from UKof T series owner Gulshan Kumar [ UPA times].
Let us remember that the money collected by the kidnappers of Khadim
[Shoe maker of Calcutta] was part financed 9/11. Dawood [ Indian Citizen] is under global red-alert.
We gave in writing that we will not hang him –to that pidly country Portugal– to get Salim. We are having Afsal–without being hanged- in special cell after the higest Court has two times rejected his petition.We keep Rajiv killers– spending hundreds of crores in special jails for decades.
Do not expect any Anglo -Saxon country to be ” compassionate”/ considerate to terrorists like the land of Buddha and Gandhi. Here terrorists are called victims–of poverty/illiteracy/angst/identity crisis/wrongly reading their book/brain washing– Give me a break!!
In this case Haneef [bearded now but always shown as clean shaven by TV’s]] has not played straight — Why should India interfere in the due process of Australia–
Incidentally in the coming years we are going to see hundres of Sabeels/Kafeels/Hanifs.
How many Ambassidors — you will recall!!
Become real —
Recalling Indian Ambassador! You must be joking. From what I know of these Indian officials abroad, the Ambassador would be the last one to leave. Postings in Western embassies at that level are gifts in return for political masters. Their whole families are settled in the countries they are `posted. Ever heard of CV Narasimhan, the UN Undersecrerary General in 1960s? He setttled in Mass, having got his daughter educated in Harvard. I bump into the offsprings of these ambassadors from time to time. The last time in Berlin a few months ago. Don’t ask me who he is.
Recall Indian Ambassador kicking and screaming from Canberra. No one notices this person’s absence. If China does this, you would see waves generating.
The evidence so far is flimsy, unless the Australian government is withholding something more meaty, I don’t see how they can hope to win their case against Haneef. Based on the evidence so far, they should let the man go.
The outcry over the lack of action from the Indian government is amusing. We all know the state of Governance in India. it is not for nothing that we fall into the category of the “third world shit hole”. The Indian government cannot protect her citizens: neither at home nor abroad (ask all those poor Indian women working as maids in Kuwait).
John Howard’s numbers are down. it looks as though Haneef could be used to perk those numbers up. I hope the poor bastard’s stars are in favorable alignment!! He will be needing more than just the Indian Government’s help. Now is the time to cash in on all those prayers!! For what its’ worth, I add my voice for a more proactive Indian government, hope it helps.
Good Luck, Haneef Mohammad.
What is wrong with Australians being tough on the terrorist? It is not India sir, to be soft, to accord exemption for minorities, to encourage pseudo-human rights. Let people of Haneef, Kafeel, Sabeel kind learn a lesson from this. These are the people who threw stones on BMTC buses when Bush attacked Iraq
We are talking about what is happening in Australia for Doctor Haniff who is suspected to be a Terrorist or one who helped them or one who knew about them. Lots and lots of people both in India and abroad have critisised the action of the Australian govt. Here at least we know as to what is happening.
Now let us look into our own back yard. How many of our Indian citizens who are in various jails in India have had any trial in court or have been charsheeted? Many of our people are rotting there for years without knowing as to why they are there. Many of them are not even on the records of the jail. Let us first wash our back yard before we talk about others! What I say may not sound palatable to some, but it is the reality.
GI,
I agree with you. I know at least two in India who were convicted on simply a hear say evidence from one prosecution side witness in the court, much ‘flimsier’ than the ‘SIM evidence’. This person who gave evidence did so after being harassed by the police. The defence lawyer was blackmailed by the police who threatened to arrest his on who was taking driving lessons and as a result the defence lawyer not challenge the evidence of prosecution witness. The two were given hefty sentences, and they are still in jail. Many knew they were no where near where the robbery took place, and infact thse two were playing cards with some of them at the time the robbery took place. But their friends would not give them alibi, and would not step forward to say that these two were innocent.
Why two were harassed and jailed by the police. The police officers and a bunch of magistrates and session judges were involved in bribery racket for several years, and two prominent judges were laundering their illgotten wealth which came to the attention of these ‘two culprits’ who were accountants.
Those who shout’injustice’ at Australia, just take a day and find out how many were beaten to death in police cells inn their own cities in Karnataka.
One pathologist of K.R. Hospital who has since retired was involved for years in certifying those victims who police beat up as ‘death due to natural causes’. His post-mortems were extensive and injuries on the victims bodies were covered up as ‘post-mortem wounds’. He retired as rich doctor, hsi sons are in Australia as doctors.
As you say’ India should wash its back yard’ first.
First: Australia is a commonwealth country not a Republic – banana or otherwise. So i suppose if British Govt. wants Haneef at any cost, then Governor General of Australia and Prime Minster have little choice.
When we had POTA and TADA, where were these self styled human rights activists ? Even after the repeal of these acts old prosecutions under these acts are not automatically suspended. Does it make India a banana Republic ?
Whatever may be the truth about Haneef, can any one explain how a poor young man from moodbidre without father study Medicine at bangalore and support his family too. Can any India Doctor make such fast forays in to British and Australian Hospitals immediately after completing MBBS ? There are many holes in the story. yet prima facie SIM card innuendo appears silly, but by an extension of the same logic, what was Sanjay dutt’s fault ? Did he know about AK 47 ‘s purpose and end use other thinking it a fancy toy for the rich and mighty to possess and show off. He just allowed himself to be used RECKLESSLY ! Hasn’t he spent enough terms in jail under TADA and still may face many months behind the wall once the final verdict comes thro’.
Let us not jump the gun and defend some one we hardly know . It is a lesson, SIM or GUN or anything else for that matter, you cannot simply share recklessly in this modern day. Pure and simple , otherwise face the music.
Why are we obsessed with this Haneef?
Here is a better idea: Make Haneef Youth and Sports minister of Karnataka or at the Center.
That’s the biggest Muslim Votecatching jesture.
A section of Indian is sick. They are uanble to understand the dangers of Jihadis and their infrastructure poses to the world.
There is some misconception about what a high commissioner/ ambassador can or cannot do. He or she is just a representative of the country and cannot take any unilateral action without the government’s sanction. Even such action if authorised by the government would be limited to communicating viewpoints and providing consular access. In other words this post is more that of a facilitator.
It is only in the case of super powers that we hear of ambassadors voicing their opinion or ‘advising’ host governments about how to handle an issue. Sometimes this is also heard of in cases of countries within SAARC that depend on other bigger neighbors. Even there, they have the backing of their own government to do so.
So asking for a recall does not make sense if he or she did not disobey any orders..
Bloggers seem to think that India is a big player in the world. Tell me about China punching its weight I will listen.
Reading about Haneef and Ahmeds, should some one investigate Dr Ambedkar Medical College just to ensure that it is not functioning as ‘madrasa’ in addition.
Ranga: what you said about “China” is 200% correct.
Once I remember one of my Chinese friend getting so upset why India does not say anything on EU’s report on Kashmir.
We , Indians have lost our skeleton, because of 1000 years of colonization. or even today.
Had a Chinese National been subjected to what they are doing to Doctor Hanief, China would have kicked the aussies on their shin and got thier man released within 24 hours.Things are bad in India. So it is in China too. But God(?) help him if anybody tries to mess around with them.It’s the question of self-esteem of a Nation and when it comes to that the Chinese stare eyeball to eyeball and send a strong message.
did haneef ‘s brother drive a vehicle into the glasgow airport ?
if his brother is guilty then i am sure that haneef knew abt his involvement and helped his brother and tried to escape from australia to india on a one way ticket .
what happened to the ngo/pseudo secul / commies / arun shitty roy / where are all these guys ? i thought they will the first on tv and condemn the australia.
Why nobody like URA, the journalist lady GL, rationalist GK etc are keeping quiet. All of them are very much in Bang. They open their mouths when the people of other communities/castes are involved, irrespective of whether they are expected to talk or not……….
I dont know if any one noticed the way the Bulgarian nurses and one Palestinian Doctor were handled by Libiya. They were all on death row on the grounds of negligence when hundreds of children were inflected with HIV positive blood. In the end, the entire EU rallied behind, the affected families were given more than One million US dollars per family and finally some high up judicial council commuted their sentance from death to life term.
I think that we are seriously off tangent here. The elblow room for any Government to oppose / assist / wrangle with another foreign Government is seriously limited.
I personally know that thousands of white foreigners are languishing in Indian jails. Their charges are from possessing small amount of herioin and heads all the way up to murder. Almost none of the embassies of their native country has tried to help them…inspite of the affected person’s families coming and pleading with the embassies.
So…lets not be carried away with emotions here. Lets not give clean chit to anyone until anyone who is alleged with such serious crime is fully cleared by those concerned and not by us … sitting cosily at homes thousands of miles away in Mysore
Shall go to Mylari for a Dosa
Gaampa
Hangey nangu ondhu benney masaley!
Gaampa & Doddi Buddi…..hangeya namagu onduu MD order maaDibuDi. Aamyake kuntknonDu maathaDoNa…
Just thought I would drop a message to inform you all that a full transcript of the police interview, along with documents relating to the possible cancellation of Dr Haneef’s VISA, are available for download at the bottom of the following link:
http://islamicsydney.com/story.php?id=3280
They were up at the time of this posting. I don’t know all the facts, but I disagree with the whole “Guilty until proven innocent” stance that is currently being taken by the police/government.
All other websites have removed the interview PDF, and this is the only place I am aware of where it is currently available.
India is going overboard on its secular credentials to the deriment of its own safety in future. Their domestic record stinks. Let us wait before rushing to conclusions. If Australia has made an ass of themselves they stand exposed. The point is will they risk it?
Look at the below links –
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22102699-601,00.html
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22104675-601,00.html
Terrorist or a supporter of terrorists should be handled in the way, Australians are handling Haneef. Someone makes a passing remark on China here. I am sure China as a country would not have supported a terrorist or supporter of terrorists, like our own hapless PM.
There should not be any sympathy for Haneef, Kafeel, Sabeel or people of those kind. Infact, the muslim terrorists and naxalites are growing in large number in Karnataka because of the support they get from the psuedo-intellectuals.
The haneef’s case is becoming fumnier. “The australian cops are making fools of themselves and their government”. That is what the bobbies in U.K dealing with the failed teror plot are saying.
Read the story from Sydney Morning Herald
“Haneef case descends into farce”
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/haneef-case-descends-into-farce/2007/07/20/1184560040251.html
I think it is better not to pre-judge Hannef as a terrorist, when Australian media and judicary are not thinking on these lines. It looks like the Aussie cops have created a storm in a tea cup and taken everybody for a ride, including some poor bloggers in this post
AUSTRALIAN BRAINLESS ARGUMENTS ON WMDS IN IRAQ AND BRAINLESS CRIMINAL GENE KIDNAP
LET ME START THIS article with the fact that Australians have produced NOTHING to benefit this EARTH.
Australians have done a lot to pollute this earth and are responsible for genocide in the Asia Pacific Region and the non production is based on lack of education.
By and large you can detect an Australian as a large bully.
Really with no clothing style and partial education
That said lets see the WMD argument form this darling of Australia.
The fate of some Intelligence Officers ha ha ha ha based on AUSTRALIAN INTELLIGENCE
oooooooh no uranium in Africa ohhhhhhhhhh
SCOOTER SCOOTER LEAK LEAK
OH NO THE BASTARD I MEAN LITERAL, without known father ROVE, HOWARDS AMERICAN BUDDY
DAMN AFRICA NIGER DAMN URANIUM OH HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO
ha ha ha ha ha ha AUSTRALIAN INTELLEGENCE OR A DINO BUTT
ree editor sahebre namma comments moderate maadthira
Australiapithicus comments gintha namdhu ‘Halka’ yiralla allva?