Australian jihadist David Hicks once wrote, “Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan (will) join together in a true Islamic state. The Islamic state is nearly completed.” Was his jihadist experience just an “adventure” or is he now adopting the standard line of rehabilitation? From the Times Online:
David Hicks, 30, whose mother was born in Croydon, South London, believes that he will be released if he becomes a British citizen. There is no legal bar to Mr Hicks being granted citizenship but his lawyers are concerned that the Home Office is stalling on a case that threatens to sour Anglo-US relations.
This year the Government secured the release of all British citizens held as terrorist suspects at Camp Delta after protesting against the unfairness of the planned military tribunal trial system, but the Australian Government has expressed itself content for Mr Hicks to face the tribunal, and the US authorities plan to try him next month.
He fought for the Kosovo Liberation Army and in Kashmir before going to Afghanistan in 2001. Mr Hicks converted to Islam but he is reported to be less than diligent in practising the faith. One Australian official said he was not a committed Islamist but “a young man looking for adventure“.