The Plight of association

A dangerous event has occurred after the failed terror plot in Glasgow. One person has in particular borne the brunt of this, and that too when he was in a place far away from the actual site of the attack. Dr.Mohammed Haneef, the Indian Doctor detained in Australia, now is in the middle of the fight between Terrorism laws and Civil Liberties on individuals.

This also throws up the fact that even mere association with Terrorists, without the persons knowledge, is indeed fatal. The specter of Mistrust now surely grows between individuals of varied nationalities in a foreign place. Never before have people been openly divided about the strictness of Terrorism law in Australia and the question of Civil Liberties.

Two things can be assumed, although they will change when events in the coming weeks unfold. One, is Australia in the grip of Islamophobia? Did Dr. Haneef really fail a character test? Or, more dangerously, has he been made a scapegoat just because he is a Muslim and that he knew the people who planned the Glasgow attack?

The last part is perhaps not the case, but it is hard to imagine Dr. Haneef as a radical. In an Interview during his ongoing trial, he said that Jihad is a struggle of life, and that he is NOT a Radical. Many terrorists who have been captured openly declare that they are doing this in service to the Almighty and that they have an Agenda. But, perhaps, this is the classic case of Dr. Haneef being at the Wrong place, at the Wrong time.

Australia, like the United States, is a land of immigrants. But, their Immigration and their Terror laws are so strict, that sometimes Civil Liberties are compromise. Whats more, unfortunately, many government spokespersons in Australia have endorsed Dr. Haneef's detention and that they are talking about deportation. I guess Australia's terror law is not biased maybe, because an Australian Al-Qaeda supporter also got the same treatment at Guantanamo Bay and subsequently in Australia as well.

If Dr. Haneef secures freedom, then can he survive in this world that has changed rapidly for him? People will now shun him as a terrorist, and further many people from all strands of society may view him with Suspicion. The torture that he will undergo in his 23 hour per day Solitary confinement might be nothing when he is free. The stigma of terrorism will stay on his head, and that gives us more reason to eliminate Terror from the Map.

Not getting Associated with Terrorists is easier said than done. Because a terrorist could be your plainclothes Friend, Doctor, neighbor or anybody. To avoid even getting associated with any of these people needs the seeds of mistrust to be sown, and a terror attack by a particular community does that. Mistrust and complete isolation from Society will encourage terror, and with Glasgow, those seeds might perhaps bear fruit in the coming months.