LAWYERS for David Hicks are yet to confirm reports that a British court has ruled the country must resume the process of declaring him a British citizen. It has been widely reported in the media that the British Court of Appeal has refused the Blair Government's final appeal aimed at blocking Hicks's citizenship application.
Hicks, whose mother was born in the United Kingdom, hopes that if he has citizenship, Britain will lobby for his release from US custody at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, as it has for other British subjects. By contrast, the Australian Government has made no effort to have Hicks freed, leaving him to face terrorism charges before a US military commission.
His Adelaide-based lawyer David McLeod today said the legal team had not been officially notified of the court's
decision. "Although it's not confirmed, we are led to believe the decision has gone against the government," Mr McLeod told ABC radio. "This means David is entitled to be registered as a citizen.
"The next step is for us to make further overtures to the UK government ministers involved, to go into bat for David in the same way they did fearlessly for the other citizens." Hicks, who was captured among Taliban forces in Afghanistan in December 2001, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, aiding the enemy and conspiracy. A date for his military trial is yet to be set.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19063695-1702,00.html 
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
