“It is Australia’s moral and humanitarian duty to help people who have already suffered physically and psychologically in Guantanamo Bay. If fighting terrorism is a global issue than [sic] helping the victims of this war is as much an obligation for the whole community.”
Which community — the Australian one, or the umma?
“Australia has moral duty to accept Gitmo detainees: Muslims,” from The West, June 2:
Australian Muslims are urging the federal government to accept and resettle the Chinese Uighurs detained in Guantanamo Bay.
The government is considering a request by the US administration to take in Muslim Uighurs being held at the US military prison.
The 10 Uighur detainees were cleared of terrorism allegations four years ago by the US but are stuck at Guantanamo Bay due to fears they would be tortured if they returned to their China.
The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Ikebal Patel, says Australia’s alliance with the US in their fight against terrorism means the government has a moral obligation to accept the Uighurs.
“It is Australia’s moral and humanitarian duty to help people who have already suffered physically and psychologically in Guantanamo Bay,” Mr Patel said. “If fighting terrorism is a global issue than [sic] helping the victims of this war is as much an obligation for the whole community.”
Mr Patel said the Uighurs did not pose any security threat to Australia and would be supported by a large community of Uighurs already living in the country.
The government has refused two earlier requests from the former US administration to take a larger group of Uighurs but confirmed on Sunday it was reviewing the latest request.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra remains opposed to any resettlement in Australia and wants the prisoners handed over to China.