Demanding the release of Mohamed Haneef, protesters on Wednesday gathered outside the Department of Immigration in Sydney and accused the Australian government of was using the detained Indian doctor to whip up a “fear frenzy”.

The protesters, including a group of Greens Party workers, refugee supporters and anti-war activists, alleged that Haneef, charged with “recklessly” supporting a terrorist group, was made a “scapegoat”.

Greens immigration spokeswoman Kerry Nettle said Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews’ actions not only undermined the Australian judicial system but Dr Haneef’s right for a fair trial. “Before his day in the court, Andrews is declaring Haneef guilty,” Senator Nettle said.

Not the right way
“This is not the way that the legal system should be operating in this country,” Senator Nettle added.
Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, told the protesters the government’s actions were “a hyping-up” of threats of terror in Australia.

Ian Rintoul also said it was “the last straw for a very desperate government”.

“We want Haneef freed, the refugees out of detention centres, the troops out of Iraq and Prime Minister Howard out of Canberra,” Rintoul said.

As the protesters applauded and cried “shame”, rally organiser and Stop the War Coalition leader Alex Bainbridge called for Haneef’s visa to restored.

The activists also threatened to “bring Prime Minister Howard government to their knees” when Sydney hosts “the biggest terrorist of them all, (US President) George W Bush” at the APEC Summit in September.