Would the same be done for a non-moslem? Is this equal treatment under the law? I think we need to know these things before we rush to judgement. Maybe this was made even more difficult for the Courts because Atik is only at the accused stage and not yet convicted in a court of law.

Still and all, that much money and the time of the Police Officers - it seems a bit of a waste given the serious nature of the charges which Atik is facing. Wouldn't a video link have been a sensible compromise?

Given all that, I am still left with a sense of moral superiority - our decency, our humanity and our sense of fair play shine through here. It may be silly but it is silliness born from the finest of motives - compassion.

Dominic.

Posted by: necessitasnonhabetlegem at May 6, 2006 8:20 AM

I was pretty disgusted about this. Apart from $8000 in tax payer dollars..well,,, why should he get specialist treatment??

He is in jail,,since when should he get "special dispensation"???

I pay a lot of tax and I am NOT amused!!

Posted by: Gramfan at May 6, 2006 8:32 AM

Had he been your average Australian criminal then he would have received zero sympathy and not even a bus ticket. In fact very few are even allowed to go their mother's funeral.

The bleeding heart mentality of some people makes me think of ostriches but unfortinately they are more difficult to cull.

This pondscum should have been treated exactly the same as every other accused criminal instead of as the elitist that his relgion expects from kafirs.

I would like to see "heads roll" over this but am sufficiently sceptical to doubt that anyone will even get a bruised knuckle. This isn't government, this is a joke.

I asked a legal aid representative here the other day just how many of the accused muslim extremists here are paying for their own defence.
He became extremely embarrassed and changed subject. As most of them have jobs and property how come they can get something that only the unemployed destitute can obtain here?

Talk about kissing the Koranic buttock!!!!!

Posted by: Zathras at May 6, 2006 8:56 AM

In the UK, we are building toilets in prisons especially for Muslims so they don't have to face Mecca when they do a poop or a number 1.

Perhaps we could have a competition for the most stupid act of grovelling dhimmitude by a government.

Come on the USA, you must have some examples!

Posted by: Celsius at May 6, 2006 9:40 AM

Celsius, we have the number one stupid act. We let them live here and we support them. We also send money to support them overseas......hmmmm, well, ok, maybe we're tied.

Posted by: freewoman at May 6, 2006 10:27 AM

This would appear to be an excellent example of what Lawrence Auster calls "The first law of minority-majority relations" (in a liberal society):

"The worse any designated minority or alien group behaves in a liberal society, the bigger become the lies of Political Correctess in covering up for that group. Thus, instead of the revelation over the last 14 months of Islam's dangerous and savage character leading (as would happen in a rational world) to a major discrediting of Muslims, or at least to a more sceptical attitude toward them, it has led to their being more favored, more coddled and more protected from criticism than ever before. They now get a whole new level of solicitous, sycophantic treatment, ranging from PBS "histories" of Islam that are more full of uncritical celebration of their subject than a tourist travelogue, to the media's constant attacks on the rest of us for indulging in an anti-Muslim backlash which has somehow never occurred."

http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/000933.html

Posted by: Caroline at May 6, 2006 10:37 AM

Caroline.....Excellent!!!

A law that we all see in practice and nicely defined.

Posted by: Zathras at May 6, 2006 11:49 AM

What is it about the West that makes her act this way? Oh yes, the hydra known as multiculturalism. Australians! Rise up and kill the beast. This American is counting on you to set the example for the dhimmified West. It won't come from us in the USA. We lack the political resolve. Perhaps you still have a bit of the frontier ethic left in your blood. Crush the beast! Take back your country from the insane politicians and academics! Save the West!

Posted by: Lepanto at May 6, 2006 12:38 PM

When Jonathan Pollard's mother passed away, he was not allowed to attend her funeral. When the Islamic terrorist wants to visit his dying brother, he is not only allowed, but all expenses are picked up for him. The difference is that Pollard never did anything to injure Westerners or endanger their security.

Posted by: special_guest at May 6, 2006 12:56 PM

"The difference is that Pollard never did anything to injure Westerners or endanger their security."

More precisely, the difference is that Pollard was not a non-Westerner wearing cool ethnic clothes and belonging to a cool "ethnic" non-Western Third World culture -- indeed, to Islam, one of the coolest of "ethnic" non-Western Third World cultures.

Posted by: Television at May 6, 2006 3:14 PM

Yes, Michael Savage is right when he says liberalism is a mental disorder, it truly is!
Their actions only supports this!!!

Posted by: eaglecap at May 6, 2006 3:35 PM

eaglecap

“Michael Savage is right when he says liberalism is a mental disorder.” When I first heard him say that, I didn’t know what he was talking about. After keeping my eyes open, my mouth shut, and reading JW/DW I have to agree with him. He also says that above all else we have to protect LANGUAGE - CULTURE - BORDERS. Many time I have heard him speak out against issues that are not good for any country. Many time he has said it is time for everyone to wake up before it’s too late. If I were in a battle, I would want him in my foxhole.

Posted by: THSIMJ at May 6, 2006 5:30 PM

Lepanto, don't get your eye in a knot. You're time would be better spent rallying the great unwashed because our alleged leaders are deaf. Our Attorney-General still doesn't know if the hate and vile literature sold at the Islamic bookstore at Auburn offends any Australian laws. It's been about 1 year now. Funny how our A-G is struck mute when the Catch the Fire Ministries get dragged into court for quoting from the Qur'an.

As I've said before: Is there any country that has a need for a bunch of overpaid, useless and inept politicians? If there is we here in Australia have a never ending supply and we'd be more than happy to export a few hundred of them.

Posted by: Salad_In at May 6, 2006 7:36 PM

It's about 12 hours from Melbourne to Sydney on the XPT train. Hell of a lot cheaper than a plane, even assuming that the bastard deserved it.

Posted by: Voltaire at May 6, 2006 8:05 PM

Mr. Atik should be allowed absolutely nothing.
I'll be writing to the government and hope others do too.

Posted by: marilyn at May 7, 2006 1:18 AM

I've got to stop reading this web site, it's not good for my blood pressure.

Who is responsible for this shameful, cringing act of dhimmitude?, Federal Attorney General Phillip Ruddock? Why is he still in Parliament, he should be hounded from office immediately.

Is the Westmead Hospital in his electorate? has he sunk so low that he has to resort to such shameful acts to get the Moslem vote in his electorate.

Shame, shame and more shame. Phillip Ruddock must go NOW.

Posted by: Ozi_bloke at May 7, 2006 1:48 AM

Ozi bloke,

Sorry about the blood pressure. better stop reading now.

the figure mentioned in the newspaper I read was $30,000.00 for the flight.

Posted by: protestcat at May 7, 2006 3:40 AM

Thanks for your concern Protestcat, I think I'm okay now. Amazing what a glass of wine can accomplish.

I just checked the electoral boundaries for Berowra (http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/maps/berowra.pdf), I don't think Westmead Hospital falls in there, It's probably in the Parramatta electorate, which I believe Phillip Ruddock once held.

I don't think Phillip Ruddock would be swayed by the Moslem vote in his electorate as I think most of his constituants would be in the "very comfortable, thank you" middle class bracket. Not the usual locality for a large Moslem vote.

But the man surprises me - I recall watching Phillip Ruddock on television, some months before John Howard and Peter Costello got into the same act, proclaiming that sharia law would never be allowed in Australia (on a visit to the Lakembastan Mosque of all places).

I admired the man - never been a fan of his - but I took him to be a man of some resolve, maybe even possesing some understanding of the situation.

But if he has approved this cowering act, submitted to some demand for jizyah, then he has departed from his previous announcement. By this act he has declared that Moslems will receive preferential treatment over others held in custody.

How does this differ from the slow introduction of Sharia ?

Posted by: Ozi_bloke at May 7, 2006 5:56 AM

Great Ozzie Kafir, here we come with a bit taqqeeya about the sharia to get jizyah...

by finding it cool to overly use their words, they have us already takin´to the rythm of their game... they are full-blast on all channels.

Posted by: cosmicAvenger at May 7, 2006 8:42 AM

Can anybody remember a case where a non-Muslim prisoner rec'd such luxurious treatment ? ( note; being driven in a prison van accross town to your mother's funeral doesn't count.
I've been an avid newspaper reader all my adult life and I cant recall one.
What next ? Will they be ringing "room service" to order up the private jet on any pretext...?

"Warden... I mean Jeeves...
Fire up the Lear would you . There's a good kafir. "

Posted by: protestcat at May 7, 2006 7:04 PM