Haneef may still face bomb plot charges: Australia police chief News
Haneef may still face bomb plot charges: Australia police chief

[JURIST] Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty [official profile] Wednesday indicated that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation of Dr. Mohammad Haneef [JURIST news archive] was "far from complete," adding that the AFP may still submit a new brief of evidence against Haneef to prosecutors. Keelty's comments followed the Tuesday release of "secret information" [press release; Solicitor-General's opinion, PDF] by Immigration and Citizenship Minister Kevin Andrews [official website], who said the AFP still considers Haneef a suspect in the attempted UK car bomb attacks [JURIST report] in June. The newly released information provided few additional insights to Andrews' much criticized decision to revoke Haneef's work visa and place him under "immigration detention" [JURIST report], but instead reiterated that Haneef left a subscriber identity module (SIM) [Wikipedia backgrounder] with his second cousin, who is one of the alleged bombers.

Haneef, who has not been implicated by UK authorities in the attacks, was detained as a terrorist suspect for 25 days for allegedly providing reckless material support [JURIST report]. Last Friday, prosecutors dropped the terror charge [JURIST report] against Haneef due to insufficient evidence. Haneef has since traveled to Bangalore, India to rejoin his wife and newborn child after the Australian government lifted Haneef's travel ban [JURIST report]. Australian Prime Minister John Howard has refused to apologize [JURIST report] to Haneef, who is currently appealing the revocation of his work visa at the Federal Court of Australia [official website]. Haneef's next hearing is scheduled for August 8. PTI has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.