The month-long ordeal for Dr. Mohammed Haneef and his family is finally over. The Indian doctor returned home from Australia on Sunday night to a rousing welcome from family, friends, relatives and well-wishers after the terror charges against him were dropped and his honour restored. While Australian media and local NGOs played a pivotal role in his release, the Indian government too intervened and did what it could do for him. Ironically, when our Prime Minister objected to the stereotyping of Indians in view of Haneef’s arrest in Australia, he simply overlooked the fact that many continue to languish in prisons of his own country without being charged. When our progressive Prime Minister appealed Australia to honour and safeguard Haneef’s rights, he forgot how the rights of several voiceless men and women are regularly violated because of the painfully slow and sometimes-flawed justice system in India. Under such circumstances, the pride and self-esteem of the person become the first casualty and his life second. And the appalling conditions in the overcrowded prisons simply add to his never-ending woes. And how about those who are charged on flimsy grounds after being rendered powerless by the ruthless and moth-eaten system? There have been several instances in the past when anti-terror laws were used thoughtlessly and blindly. People are booked and incarcerated on mere suspicion...and the suspicion could arise from a variety of factors, including the community one belongs to. It takes them months and years and sometimes an entire lifetime to prove their innocence. So how are we preserving and protecting their rights? Are we not dishonouring the very tenets of democracy? And we have the cheek to call Australia a racist country? We are the casteist, the communalists and world’s greatest hypocrites.
5 comments:
I love the way it is expressed! Specially the way she has commented-crisp! Its very easy to find loopholes in the system of others but its really very difficult to identify our own shortcomings.
Yes, Shobha, the Indian judicial system is flawed and God save anyone who has a matter to settle with the Indian police, judiciary or prison authorities.
But all said and done, if one was to hold a mirror to prisons here and in the west, I guess ours are the lesser of the two evils. This I speak on the basis of a documentary I saw (made by an Indian born British filmmaker ) and the film reflects that sexual harassment, atrocities and day to day violence are far lesser in Indian prisons than abroad.
Yes, there is a huge problem with the judicial system, and the policing. Biases are at play and corruption rules the roost. But that is an evil rooted in our society...to have more...and more...and more till you burst. if the Union HRD Minister is not averse to greed and avarice, how can the population (bursting at the seams) be immune?
Apart from that I would like some answers about the Haneef case answered. Yes, the Aussies went overboard and bungled it. But there is more to the case than just what meets the eye.
When you and I and all know that SIM cards are NOT TO BE LENT, why did Haneef, an educated global citizen do it? Why was he fleeing on a one-way ticket to India without a leave application to his office, a job and VISA he had worked so hard for? Why were the dishes lying unwashed in his kitchen sink when he was about to cross international borders.
If this does not indicate to you, a man fleeing from prosecution or possible prosecution, what does? If I was the Aussie police I would have been suspicious too.
Yes, we are racist in India when we want the same caste/religion bahu for our sons, a gori (fair as fair can be) girl as a match for our boy and when we commit female foeticide for that prized male child , we are the world's most sexist country too.
Long Live India.
Hi Shobha. Here's more data on the Dr. Haneef debacle, this time straight from the Australian Immigration authorities.
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/31/1993348.htm
Chat room talk behind Haneef's visa cancellation
hey kirti...I did a story on chatroom conversation between Haneef and his brother (in India)...I have the transcript with me. Ironically what the Australian Minister hasn't revealed is that the transcript is not new...it was discussed during Haneef's trial in the Australian court and the honourable judge refused to acknowledge it and dropped all the charges against him.
If you go through the transcript carefully, you will find that Haneef's brother is trying to console the terrified doctor. The conversation takes place after the arrest of Kafeel and Sabeel. Haneef realised that he could well be in the police net because he had loaned his sim card to Kafeel.
And remember the entire transcript is not out...only those portions which could well turn the case in Australia's favour have been released...Haneef's not talking much...he is simply worried.
Mind you, the information is not new...it has already been scrutinised by the court and thrown aside...it was made public on Tuesday only to make some of the gullible men and women believe that the brown Muslim man had some knowledge of the failed teror plot.
And finally, My article on Haneef is not to prove him innocent, its just to compare the judicial sytem in both the countries...How he got out of the jail in just 25 days even after being held for terror...and how in India people are incarcerated for years without being charged.
Also, one should always go through more than two reputed news sites before coming to a conclusion about anything...As both of us know - journalism sells...the biggest irony of these times.
cheers
Judicial system anywhere sucks...certain aspects may be harder to digest than others...but overall, like Kirti said, may God save anyone who has a matter to settle with the Indian police, judiciary or prison authorities :)
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