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Down Under
Journo warns of Muslim backlash over his 'delayed' visa
2007-09-14
A Palestinian journalist has warned of a Muslim backlash over the failure of Australian authorities to grant him a visa in time to speak at today's Brisbane Writers Festival. Abdel Bari-Atwan, a best-selling author and among the last Western journalists to interview Osama bin Laden, was cancelled as a speaker at the festival yesterday as he waited for his visa application to be processed.

Atwan, author of The Secret History of al-Qa'ida, accused the Howard Government of discrimination in delaying approval for his visa application, submitted on August 16, after giving notice to authorities of his intention to visit Australia. "I believe this is a deliberate delay because I am an Arab and a Muslim," Atwan said. "It is ridiculous. I am not a terrorist, I am not a drug dealer, I am dealing in words and thoughts."

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews denied any delay. "His application is currently being assessed and is subject to normal visa processing requirements," he said in a statement.
Normal? NORMAL??? Do you KNOW WHO I AM ????
Mr Andrews' spokeswoman later conceded that Atwan's 1996 interview with bin Laden in Afghanistan would be "a matter for security agencies" in processing his application. "This is not an unusual amount of time for the processing of a visa. He is in queue just like everyone else," she said.

Festival director Michael Campbell said visa applications for other international speakers had, on average, taken just "a few days". "I am appalled and embarrassed in equal parts by this situation," he said.

A self-described moderate, Atwan is editor-in-chief of the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper and a regular guest on the American university circuit and on CNN, BBC and the ABC. He said his visa problems would air throughout the Muslim world. "This could, in fact, incite trouble for Australia because there are a billion-and-a-half Muslims over the world and this will be publicised among those people," he said. "They are not serving the Australian peoples' interests, they are not serving Australian security, they are actually doing the opposite."

Human Rights lawyer Greg Barns, who advised Atwan, said there was no legal reason to deny him a visa.
But there are good reasons to keep him from speaking in Oz, I suspect.
Posted by:Seafarious

#15  "Army of Tone" here. Can we *please* not talk about the rugby :( - basically it's not been the best of days for English sports ... :(

However, thanks for the acclaims Swamp Blondie ;)

As it happens, I was going to Oz in 2006 and found that I couldn't get a visa because my passport only had 6 months on it. Instead of declaring war and preparing an invasion, I renewed my passport instead, spending a pleasant day in Durham in the process.

However, I'm not one of 'the master race', and so don't expect the kuffar to bend over for me.

In short, this guys a tool, needs ignoring or preferably, a good kicking.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2007-09-14 17:08  

#14  Is there anything that DOESN'T "incite trouble" when it comes to the delicate sensibilities of Muslims?

Islam is the problem. Islam has always been the problem.
Posted by: Crusader   2007-09-14 15:36  

#13  How are the Aussies to discriminate between Muslim rage over this incident versus Muslim rage over any other alleged insult?

BTW....all hail the Army of Tone! ;)
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2007-09-14 12:39  

#12  "I believe this is a deliberate delay because I am an Arab and a Muslim,"

And he'd be right. Few groups other than the Palestinians can take more credit for giving Muslims one helluva a crappy reputation. Suck it up you Islamic scribbler.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-14 12:22  

#11  "I believe this is a deliberate delay because I am an Arab and a Muslim,"

Actually, it's because you're a pompous, self important asshole and we feel like breaking your balls. So sorry...
As far as "Muslim backlash" (shudder), would that be rage, seething, Dire Revenge™, explosions, or beheadings, etc. We'd like to put it in the record for the next time you try to come back here.
Posted by: tu3031   2007-09-14 11:13  

#10  Jack not to mention an 8 that's 40. But still I'd rather see a northern hemisphere win. Except France of course loved the Puma smack last Friday
Posted by: Beavis   2007-09-14 10:47  

#9  Beavis:

No way. Catts at Fly but Barkley and Vickery are out. Tough to handle SA without some meat up front and some speed in the middle. Kicking will not win this match.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2007-09-14 10:34  

#8  Tony(UK)

Good luck today beat the 'boks.
Posted by: Beavis   2007-09-14 10:01  

#7  Abdel's a Paleo - they're genetically predisposed to impotent rage and blustery threats
Posted by: Frank G   2007-09-14 09:38  

#6  I would actually pay to fly Qantas all the way down to OZ just to watch a bunch of silly muzzie terror wannabee's take on the Wallabies in anything, especially a death match. No contest. Why the hell threaten a country founded by bad boyz and pretty much one of the hard-ass countrys around? Picking on the wrong crowd there Abdel.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2007-09-14 09:13  

#5  his visa problems would air throughout the Muslim world.

And this will cause Muslim tourists - er, terrorists, whatever - to leave Oz off their travel itineraries.
Posted by: Glenmore   2007-09-14 07:27  

#4  1.3 billion Muslims but there are 2.0+ Billion christians
Posted by: Boss Craising2882   2007-09-14 02:54  

#3  It should do ... no less. (MGM Lion Roar)

Crikey!, I'd better get out of this alter-ego, I need to go to work today, and it would not be good for me to start wandering around mumbling about 'the Army of Tone' - although come to think of it ... ;)
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2007-09-14 00:57  

#2  LOL. Oz trembles before the Wrath of Tone.
Posted by: Seafarious   2007-09-14 00:46  

#1   "This could, in fact, incite trouble for Australia because there are a billion-and-a-half Muslims over the world and this will be publicised among those people,"

If that's not a threat, I dunno what is.

Australia!, I demand you slap him round the face, with his shoes no less!, and tell him to bugger off! There will be consequences if you do not! The army of Tone, numbering one, may well feel aggrieved if you do not. This could lead to restrictions on buying Ozzy wine, and perhaps even a delay in returning to your lovely land to spend large quantities of moolah. Oh calamity!.

There. If it works for him, it should work for me.

(When interviewed later on, the Army of Tone confessed that it's highly unlikely they will stop drinking Australian wine or taking holidays in Australia, as "Oz is a top place, the Army has many mates out there". The Army did say however, that they will instead cheer for England against Australia in forthcoming sporting events instead. When it was pointed out that this is what happens anyhow, the interview was terminated abruptly)
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2007-09-14 00:44  

00:00