”It makes me sick to the stomach.” The quote is from me (Father Dave), as reported in Rick Fenley’s June 22nd article in the Sydney Morning Herald, “Time running out for sheikh told to leave“.

The quote is with reference to the way the Australian government persuaded the United Nations to withdraw their request for a stay on the deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei, on the basis that they are not actually breaking up his family.

The government claimed that because they had given visas to Mansour’s wife and youngest son that they were therefore not damaging the family unit. Hoever, in reality, the Sheikh and his wife and daughter will be forced to head back to Iran with Mansour, thus leaving three sons in Australia and breaking the family in half.

As the article also makes clear though, the United Nations is still pursuing the Australian government over concerns that Australia has violated fundamental human rights treaties to which it is signatory in the way it has treated Sheikh Mansour (eg. the right of every person to a fair trial). The government has been given until October 21st to respond to the United Nations’ concerns.  Read the full article here.

Another major media outlet to cover the Sheikh’s story is Al-Jazeera. As well as the clip displayed below, Al-Jazeera is considering a full-length documentary concerning the Sheikh’s treatment.

June 3rd, 2010 – over 1000 of us gather at Parliament House, Canberra, to protest the pending deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei.

Sheikh Mansour is to be deported without trial. Despite living peacefully for 16 years in Australia and raising a family of four children, the government is deporting him without giving him any explanation.

On June 3rd, 2010, more than 1000 of us went to Canberra to voice our protest about the treatment of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei, who, after 16 years of peaceful living in Australia is about to be deported for reasons that the Australian authorities will not divulge.  For a sildeshow of the whole album, click here.

Shortly after this photo was taken, the officer asked the girl to take down her sign

For a sildeshow of the whole album, click here.

Christian leaders from around the world continue to voice their support for Sheikh Mansour Leghaei as the Australian government continues to ignore the United Nations demand to hold off on his deportation.

Dr Tony Campolo, President of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education and a world-renowned speaker and author, recently voiced his concern over the Sheikh’s case (see his comment here).  And now Father Kevin Dance, who represents the Passionist Community (of the Catholic Church) to the United Nations has written to the Australian Prime Minster in the letter reprinted below.

These men join other prominent Christian leaders world-wide, including Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Bishop Riah of Jerusalem, in appealing for justice for Sheikh Mansour.

From the representative of the Passionist Community to the United Nations

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister of Australia
Parliament House Canberra
ACT 2600

June 9, 2010

Dear Mr. Prime Minister

Re: Request to prevent the deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei in accordance with the communication of the United Nations Human Rights Committee of 21 April, 2010.

I write this letter in support of the petition that Sheikh Mansour Leghaei not be deported  from Australia until the United Nations Human Rights Committee has completed its investigation of the matter.

I presently represent the worldwide Passionist community at the United Nations. Here I am involved in much interfaith cooperation in the service of peace.  Prior to this assignment, I was Parish Priest of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church in Marrickville which is adjacent to Earlwood where the Imam Husain Islamic Centre is located.

I do not know Dr. Leghaei personally, but I have confidence in the sound judgement of many within the interfaith community, including my successor Father John Pearce, who know him as a man of peace. He is committed to promoting harmony in his own community and within the wider community of Sydney.  Surely, in our multicultural society of Australia, we need people of the caliber and with the leadership that this man has shown.

He has lived at peace in Australia with his family for more than 15 years.  His application for Permanent Residence in Australia has been denied, but he has never been given a chance to clear his name as the allegations made against him by ASIO have never been made known to him. This is a denial of natural justice and of his civil and political rights.

I ask you to intervene and call for a stay in executing the deportation order on Dr. Leghaei until the Human Rights Committee makes its report. This is not a sign of weakness but, rather, a statement of the basic decency and respect for human rights that does and should represent the best that is Australian.

Yours sincerely,

Father Kevin Dance, C.P.
REPRESENTING THE PASSIONIST FAMILY AT THE UNITED NATION

Thursday, June 3rd 2010, more than 1000 men, women and children travelled to Canberra to march on Parliament House, calling on the Australian government to heed the request of the United Nations and halt the deportation of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei.

The event was covered on a variety of TV News stations and in all the major papers.

Links to other TV and Newspaper coverage:

• ABC News: Sheikh’s supporters protest against his deportation
• SBS World News: Hundreds protest over sheikh’s deportation
• Bigpond News: Protesters rally over Sheikh deportation
• Brisbane Times: Peace prize winner in bid to save sheikh
• eFarming: Sheikh’s supporters protest against his deportation
• Optus News: Deporting sheikh ‘would breach human rights’
• Seven News: Sheikh’s supporters protest against his deportation
• Sky News: Protesters rally in bid to save Sheikh (video not working)

International coverage:

• RFI.fr (French News): L’Australie expulse un cheikh islamiste accusé d’être un risque pour la sécurité nationale (nb. click icon in top-right corner to replay radio interview).