'No apology' for detained doctor
The Australian government has said it will not apologise to an Indian doctor who was wrongly detained and charged over bomb attacks in the UK in 2007.
Dr Mohamed Haneef demanded an apology after a report on Tuesday found that various mistakes had been made.
But Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the government would not say sorry at this stage, as Mr Haneef's lawyers intended to sue for compensation.
He said an apology now might influence the claim.
'Totally unacceptable'
Mr Haneef was mistakenly arrested, detained and charged over a failed plot to detonate bombs in London and Glasgow last year.
His ordeal culminated in his deportation, even though terrorism-related charges against him had by that time been dropped.
An Australian judicial inquiry, which published its findings on Tuesday, concluded that mistakes had been made.
Mr McClelland said that "errors were made from ground level to the highest level".
"A man was wrongly charged... A man was detained for longer than was really necessary. These situations are totally unacceptable and should not have occurred," he said.
But on Wednesday Mr McClelland said the federal government would not apologise at this stage of the legal process, as it might influence a future claim for compensation.
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Its obvious that the Australian government's choice not to offer an apology is fuelled by money
Not all that surprising, since this has been the status quo for governments everywhere for time immemorial. What is right, just and proper doesnt come into the equation.
Dr. Haneef has undoubtedly begun a compensation claim based on the great hardship, damage, pain and suffering caused to him, his family, his career, his mental and physical health, notwithstanding the loss of future earnings, etc. This is also a high profile story, and so you can imagine how much money is going to be involved, and eventually forked out :shock:
The Austalian government, by making a formal admission of guilt, would simply be shooting themselves more in the foot than they already have done.
May Allah shine sweet faith upon you this day and times beyond. May your heart be enriched with peace, and may your home be blessed always. Ameen.
It's not about making a mistake, rather ruining a life. Not only did they make a mistake in the first case, they made it a political issue from which they could not back down and even when he was found to be totally innocent, he was punished further, was held in detention, his visa revoked etc simply because it would cost the (last) government politically to admit they were wrong.
An apology is worthless, but if that is what he wants, that is what he wants.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
"The Australian government has said it will not apologise to an Indian doctor who was wrongly detained and charged over bomb attacks in the UK in 2007.
Dr Mohamed Haneef demanded an apology after a report on Tuesday found that various mistakes had been made. "
Is it me? or does that sound like a playground argument. The Australian government are being childish and stubborn. I think Dr Mohamed Haneef should get his apology. But I suppose this is how it always is with these things. I say that because of the reasons Amal stated above.