India has expressed concern at the continued detention of an Indian doctor in Australia in connection with the failed bomb attacks in the UK.
The foreign ministry in Delhi summoned the Australian High Commissioner and told him that Dr Muhammad Haneef should be treated fairly.
He is charged with providing “reckless support” to a terrorist organisation.
He is alleged to have given a mobile phone SIM card to two suspects in the UK attacks. He denies any involvement.
A spokesman for India’s ministry of external affairs, Navtej Sarna, said Australia’s High Commissioner to India, John McCarthy, has been told of India’s concern over the detention of Dr Haneef in Brisbane.
Legal assistance
“The ministry of external affairs has expressed its concern to the Australian government that Dr Haneef should be treated fairly and justly under Australian law,” Mr Sarna said.
He said Indian diplomats in Canberra were helping to arrange legal assistance for him.
Dr Haneef was stopped at Brisbane airport on 2 July as he tried to leave for India.
On Monday he was granted bail after a magistrate ruled that prosecutors had failed to provide evidence of a direct link between Dr Haneef and a terrorist organisation.
But he continues to remain in custody pending trial since his working visa has been cancelled.
Officials said Dr Haneef would remain in detention under Australian immigration law.
Three people have been charged so far in connection with the attacks in London and Glasgow.
Two other men arrested in connection with the attacks have been released without charge.
An inquiry was launched after two cars with petrol, nails and gas cylinders were found in London on 29 June.
A day later, a burning car loaded with gas cylinders was driven into the main terminal building at Glasgow’s international airport.
– BBC July 17, 2007
