Iranian Sheikh Mansour Leghaei to be deported from Australia
From Left: Mansour Leghaei, his son Mohammad Ali, wife Marzieh Hosseini, son Mohammad Sadesgh, daughter Fatima Mohammad Reza, and son Mohammad Reza. Photo: Tamara Dean
An Iranian sheikh who lived in Australia for 16 years has been given six weeks to leave Australia after the Immigration Minister refused to overrule an adverse security assessment by ASIO that suspects him of “acts of foreign interference”. Mr Leghaei was first contacted by ASIO in 1995 after his short visit from Iran he was carrying $10,000 in cash, reportedly a donation from the Islamic Propagation Centre in Tehran.
ASIO hasn’t told Mansour why he was suspected as he is non-citizen and he is not entitled to be told the reason for his suspect, the High Court ruled. Immigration Minister said he would not intervene against ASIO’s decision and was acting in the best interest of Australia and national security. Mr Leghaei is considered as the man with Iran’s interest in Australian soil.
Filed Under: Intelligence & National Security, News
Tags: Mansour Leghaei Going Back to Iran, Mansour Leghaei of Iran
Comments (1)
Maria
June 29th, 2010 at
Taken from this link: http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/law/436.html?newsstoryid=4935
Associate Professor Ben Saul said Australia is in violation of six articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in its decision to deport Sheikh Mansour Leghaei.
In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, Associate Professor Saul said ASIO accused Dr Leghaei of undisclosed ”acts of foreign interference” but, because he is a non-citizen, Australian law entitles him to no explanation – a position confirmed by the High Court of Australia.
”In other countries, like Britain and in Europe, affected persons are given an opportunity to see at least a summary of the evidence against them.
“In the sheikh’s case, he’s been given access to nothing whatsoever.”
In other related coverage, Associate Professor Saul told ABC Radio Current Affairs Program PM that the case could have ramifications for other people who’ve been denied residency on the grounds of ASIO assessments.
“Under the ASIO legislation, any non-citizen can be subject to an adverse security assessment without having seen any of the evidence against them.
“If Australia proceeds to deport the sheikh it will be in direct contravention of its obligations under its international human rights treaties and in direct contravention of a specific order issued by the UN committee.”
Leave a reply