campaigns


Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal
Bishop Riah
“I am really shocked to hear what awaits Sheikh Dr. Mansour. This is rather absurd. Only during emergency times one hears about such actions. I
really hope that he be given the opportunity
to defend himself.”


Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal was the 13th Episcopal Bishop of Jerusalem (an episcopate covering Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon).  Riah is a world leader in human-rights activism and a staunch campaigner for peace in the Middle East.


Mairead Maguire
Mairead Maguire
“I would like to appeal to the Minister forImmigration, Mr. Chris Evans, and the Australian Government not to deport Sheikh Mansour Leghaei from Australia.

I understand that he and his family have lived
peacefully in Australia for 16 years and he is deeply respected by the Islamic Community which he serves as a Muslic Cleric.

Dr. Leghael is not only not a threat to Australian
National Security but indeed through his peaceful presence and work both within the muslim community and with other religious leaders and people, makes a great contribution to Australian society.

It is also important he is not deported as he has not been given a right to a fair hearing and his deportation would therefore be in breach of his human rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) to which Australia is a Party.”

Máiread Corrigan-Maguire was the co-founder of the Community of Peace People, an organization which attempts to encourage a peaceful resolution of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Along with co-founder, Betty Williams, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976.


Dr Chandra Muzaffar
Dr Chandra Muzaffar
“The impending deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei is a travesty of justice. There is no doubt at all that his human rights have been violated.

Since the Australian government often champions human rights, it should not hesitate to provide the Sheikh with all the opportunities to defend himself. If the government deports him, it will only be tranishing its own image internationally.”

Dr Chandra Muzaffar is a leading Malaysian Muslim political scientist, Islamic reformist and activist. He has written extensively on civilisational dialogue, human rights, Malaysian politics and international relations. Dr Muzaffar is President of the International Movement for a Just World


.

Hans Kochler

Professor Hans Kochler
“The International Progress Organization considers the deportation order as a serious violation of Australia’s obligations under international human rights treaties which it has ratified. There can be no fair hearing of the case if the authrotities refuse to disclose the allegations against Sheikh Mansour. We appeal to the government of Australia to revoke this decision.”


Hans Köchler
is a professor of philosophy at the
University of Innsbruck, Austria, and president of the International Progress Organization, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations


norman-finkelstein-150

Dr Norman Finkelstein

“The U.N. Human Rights Committee (not to be confused with the U.N. Human Rights Council) is composed of human rights experts from around the world. Its request that Sheikh Mansour not be deported until the HRC has investigated the case should be respected by the Australian government. Otherwise, it will appear that the government wants to dispose of Sheikh Mansour before light might be cast on the veracity of the allegations against him.”

Dr Norman Finkelstein is an American political scientist and author, whose primary fields of research are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust.


Desmond Tutu

Bishop Desmond Tutu

“In South Africa we used to have detention without trial. In Australia you have deportation without trial!”


Bishop Desmond Tutu
was the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town in South African and one of the leading opponents of apartheid in the 1980’s. In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and he continues to be one of the world’s leading human-rights activists and peace campaigners.

is a professor of
philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and
president of the International
Progress Organization
, a non-governmental organization in
consultative status with the United Nations
Norman Finkelstein

Dr Norman Finkelstein
click for full size click for full size click for full size

March 28, 2010.  Almost 1000 supporters of Dr Mansour Leghaei gathered in Steele Park in Marrickville, calling upon the Australian government to reconsider the decision to deport their favourite Sheikh (click on the thumbnails above for full size pics).

On February 19th Sheikh Mansour Leghaei was given 28 days to leave the country.  That means that as of today (March 4th) he technically only has 15 days left!

We trust that Sheikh will be given a visa extension while the Minister for Immigration considers his formal submission, appealing the decision. Even so, those who would act to protest this terrible injustice must do so NOW!

The most important thing everybody can do now is to sign the Save the Sheikh Petition.  Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Right-click here and choose ‘save target as’ to download the petition.
  2. Open it and print off multiple copies
  3. Sign it yourself and ask others who support the Sheikh to sign it.
  4. Send your signed petition back to the Imam Husain Centre by March 14.

nb. The address of the Centre is printed at the bottom of the petition, along with the return date,  so you won’t forget. 🙂

Our hope is that once these petitions are collected we will be able to present them to the Minister for Immigration in person in Canberra.  The trip is currently scheduled for March 17.  If you’d like to join us on the trip to Canberra put this date tentatively aside in your diary now.  Confirmation will be given on this site closer to the date.

Other ‘Save the Sheikh’ activities that are in the pipeline include:

  • a formal press conference (probably next Wednesday)
  • a supporters BBQ (possibly on Sunday March 14)

I know there’s talk in our church too of holding a 24-hour prayer vigil here at Holy Trinity Dulwich Hill, and inviting the Prime Minister and other Christian political leaders to join us in praying that justice is done.

Updates will be posted to this site as soon as confirmation of events has been given, so stay in touch and keep praying!

P.S. To see the article in the Bankstown Express about the Sheikh and myself, click here.

Below is a template for a letter to the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, appealing that he use his discretionary power to allow Sheikh to stay in the country.

Note that the letter does not suggest that we know all the factors that have led to the government’s negative assessment of the Sheikh. Rather, the focus is on his right to procedural fairness – the belief that everybody in this country is entitled to a ‘fair go’.

Please adapt this letter in a way that makes it your own, but maintain the attitude of respect, believing that the Minister is concerned to see justice done.


The Hon. Chris Evans
Minister for Immigration & Citizenship
Parliament House
Canberra
ACT 2600

Dear Minister,

RE: SHEIKH DR.MANSOUR LEGHAEI

I/We write this letter in regards to the immigration case of Sheik Mansour Leghaei, which had not been resolved over the last 11 years (his application having been lodged on the 1st November 1996).

As an Australian resident/citizen/Australian residents/citizens I am/we are concerned about the manner in which Dr. Legghaei’s case had been dealt with and the process adopted. As a person/persons who knows/know him personally/know of him and have witnessed his service and contribution to Australian community we request you to look into the case again and give him a fair hearing and a reasonable consideration of his case.

Further more we place before you our trust in Dr. Leghaei as a person who has worked towards peace, inter-religious harmony and settlement of new migrants with Australian values into the community, and do not consider him as a person who would cause any threat or disadvantage to the Australian community. On the contrary the Leghaei family had been well loved and accepted by all al who have into contact with them.

Thanking you for a favorable response to gain permanent residence

Yours Faithfully/Sincerely,

Name
Organisation
Position


Feel free to contribute your own letter as a comment

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