Tamara Pearson, Sydney
With just one day's notice, 60 people gathered in Bankstown to welcome Mamdouh Habib home on January 29, after he was released from the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The rally was organised by the Justice for Hicks and Habib Campaign, the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group and the Socialist Alliance.
On January 28, Marlene Obeid from the Justice for Hicks and Habib Campaign told media that "Habib will now be free to join his wife Maha and children, and a welcoming and supportive community".
She said the event would "demonstrate to attorney-general Philip Ruddock and other federal and state authorities that Habib is not alone. We believe he is innocent of all charges and that he deserves justice."
Campaigning for Habib's freedom, and that of David Hicks, who is still detained at Guantanamo Bay, began in 2002. The gathering marked Habib's return as a victory, but vowed to keep campaigning to free Hicks and to close Guantanamo Bay.
Speakers at the rally included Obeid, Raul Bassi from the Socialist Alliance and the Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group, Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, rapper NOMISe, Brett Collins from Justice Action, Anna Samson from the Stop the War Coalition and author and civil-rights campaigner Tim Anderson.
Supporters also signed a large "welcome home" card, which will be given to Habib. Bassi announced a public forum scheduled for February 24 to discuss US torture and terrorism, and to continue the campaign for justice for Hicks and Habib. To get involved, phone Raul Bassi on 0403 037 376.
From Green Left Weekly, February 2, 2005.
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