Habib lawyer to 'gather proof'

[cal04]

THE lawyer for Sydney man Mamdouh Habib is confident he will find evidence to prove the Australian Government knew his client was being tortured in US detention at Guantanamo Bay. Lawyer Stephen Hopper said he was working to gather evidence to prove the Government was aware Mr Habib was being subjected to "atrocities" at the US military base in Cuba.Mr Hopper yesterday gave new details of the alleged torture his client suffered.

Interrogators also told Mr Habib they had murdered his family, and defaced photos of his wife, Maha, and their four children, Mr Hopper told a rally yesterday.

The Federal Government last night said it was aware of similar allegations of torture made by former British detainees at Guantanamo Bay but it was the first time the Government had heard the claims involving Mr Habib. Mr Hopper yesterday said he would work to collect proof the Howard Government knew of the abuse. He would not repeat the comments today but stood by his remarks yesterday, made at an Australia Day forum in Sydney.

"I hope to gather evidence (to show) the Australian Government knew Mamdouh was tortured like this," he told the forum. "It will be there, I'm sure. "We have to explore every possible avenue available to us to find it, and find all other evidence against everyone else involved." A spokesman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has told the media that Mr Habib would be flown home on a government-chartered long-range jet within a week.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12068679%255E1702,00.html

[roguevalley]

1. Go for it. I hope they find it.

[Tinoire]

2. Disgusting. Absolutely despicable. n/t