'Restore Haneef's work visa now!'

The federal government should restore Indian doctor Mohamed Haneef's work visa immediately, and pay him compensation for distress and financial loss, Jim McIlroy, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the south Brisbane seat of Griffith, told Green left Weekly. Griffith is held by ALP leader Kevin Rudd.

"As revealed in the ABC Four Corners program on October 1, Dr Haneef is still unemployed three months after being arrested on false charges, vilified and forced out of his job at the Gold Coast Hospital", McIlroy explained.

"He has had to return to his home in Bangalore, and says he is determined to regain his visa so he can resume his studies and work abroad. He has been forced by the harsh and unjust actions of the Howard government to rely on his savings and family support to survive, along with his wife and newborn child."

According to McIlroy, "This is an urgent matter of human rights and basic justice. I challenge Kevin Rudd to commit an incoming Labor government to reinstating Dr Haneef's visa, so he can return to Australia and resume his important work within the ailing Australian public health system."

McIlroy said the Socialist Alliance has pledged to support Dr Haneef and to cancel any government appeal against the Federal Court decision to overturn immigration minister Kevin Andrews' cancellation of the visa. "The alliance is also demanding the repeal of the repressive immigration and 'anti-terror' laws on which the whole Haneef debacle is based."

From GLW issue 727