‘I was victimised for being Asian Muslim’

BANGALORE: A day after landing in Bangalore, Mohammed Haneef lashed out at the Australian government, saying he was made a victim because he is an Asian Muslim.

The doctor, who was cleared of terrorism charges, also alleged that his detention and arrest were part of a political conspiracy by the Australian government.

“When they detained me at Brisbane airport, I thought that they would question me and let me off,” Haneef, 27, said about his initial detention. “But when my detention was extended, I got a feeling that things aren’t how they should be.”

“My family and I have suffered a lot because of the whole issue,” he said. “I want the Immigration Minister to make public the reasons for withholding my visa,” he said. Kevin Andrews, the Immigration Minister, announced that he will reveal the reasons for revoking the doctor’s visa.

Despite his agonising experience of the past three weeks, Haneef shows a surprising keenness to return to Australia. “I want to return to Australia and work with Gold Coast hospital. And I will fight to get my visa back,” Haneef said.

Neither did he demand an apology from the Australian government for their shoddy treatment of him. “I do not want an apology from the Australian government. If they want, they should say sorry to India for damaging the country’s name,” he said.

Haneef’s lawyer, Peter Russo, said they would fight for his visa. “My client had to go through all this because the Scotland Yard provided wrong information to the Australian Police,” said Russo. Haneef is yet to decide whether he wants to sue the Australian government.