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Habib gets defamation green light
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Civil Rights Network
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Sep 07, 2005 18:00 PDT
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Habib gets defamation green light
August 16, 2005 - 12:10PM
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib has been given the go-ahead
to pursue defamation proceedings against News Ltd newspapers The
Australian and The Daily Telegraph.
Mr Habib, who was detained by the United States as a suspected
terrorist, is suing Nationwide News, the publisher of the News Ltd
newspapers, over several articles.
A cartoon published in Sydney's The Daily Telegraph in April 2002 titled
"The amazing journey of a suburban terrorist" is also included in the
case.
Justice Henric Nicholas told the NSW Supreme Court today there was
enough evidence to substantiate Mr Habib's claims.
"In this case I hold each of the imputations ... are reasonably capable
of being conveyed [as] complained of and I further hold that each is
reasonably capable of being defamatory of the plaintiff," Justice
Nicholas said.
"Accordingly, each of these imputations should go to trial."
The matter will return to the same court on September 9 for a trial date
to be set.
Mr Habib was arrested in Pakistan in October 2001 and later transferred
to the US military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
He was held in the same military detention centre as Australian David
Hicks before being released without charge and returned to Australia in
January this year.
Herald Sun artilce in Response :
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16294361-2,00.html
FORMER Guantanamo Bay inmate Mamdouh Habib yesterday described the US as
"terrorists" and condemned Australia's hardline approach to suspects -
but he still wants taxpayers to give him a disability pension.
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