Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib swore on the Qur’an and said he had never trained with terrorists or as a mercenary.
“I never been terrorist with anybody, I never train with anybody,” Mr Habib told Channel Nine.
“Is not true, I never been train as a mercenary, I didn’t do it, that’s not true.”
As federal government MPs and theLebanese Moslems Associationstepped up pressure on Mr Habib to explain his activities in Afghanistan, television footage showed the former detainee placing his hand on the Qur’an and saying: “I swear”.
He offered to appear before a Senate estimates committee hearing to defend himself against allegations that he offered his services to al-Qaeda.
It also shocked the Muslim community that a single Mosque organisation, Lebanese Moslems Association president Kayser Trad would assert comments against Mr. Habib which questioned the authority of Mr. Habib swearing over the Qur’an, and then suggest thatthe Muslim communitywas seeking or deservedanswers from Mr. Habib.
On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty told the hearing Mr Habib had trained with a Pakistan-based terrorist group and had planned to work as an al-Qaeda mercenary in Afghanistan.
“I love to go to say in the front of the senator and explain to every single thing you want to know, I tell them all my story, I’m happy to do this any time,” he said.
In an interview with the Nine network’s 60 Minutes program on Sunday, Mr Habib detailed allegations that he was tortured and abused while in US custody, on suspicion of training with terrorists.
However, he refused to say whether he was in Afghanistan before his arrest or what he was doing there. Mr. Habib also stated that he was prepared to answer that question in front of a court of law.
ASIO and the AFP on Tuesday told the Senate estimates hearing that Habib remained a security interest, despite not being charged by US authorities.
Chairman of the parliamentary committee overseeing Australia’s spy agencies, David Jull, said there was more to Mr Habib’s story than had been revealed.
Asked whether he believed charges could be laid, the Queensland Liberal MP told reporters: “I’m not saying that at all, but I think there is a lot more of the story (that) may have to come out yet.”
Government backbencher Bronwyn Bishop said she had a “big problem” with Mr Habib, while Queensland Liberal MP Warren Entsch said he should make his allegations of torture through proper channels, rather than on television.
Lebanese Muslim Association president Keysar Trad said Mr Habib owed the Australian public an explanation.
“I think he’s got questions to answer to the whole Australian public, not just the Muslim community,” Mr Trad told the Nine network.
“Withholding (his response to) the question (about what he was doing in Afghanistan) was poorly advised, he should have put the issue to rest.”
But Mr Habib’s Australian lawyer Stephen Hopper said Mr Trad should keep out of his client’s affairs.
“Mr Habib is quite distressed that Mr Trad is taking it on himself to start making comments on his case,” Mr Hopper told AAP.
“He’s distressed and offended … he wants nothing to do with Mr Trad or his organisation.”
Islamic Sydney Media asked sections of the Muslim community if Mr. Trad represented their views, and they clearly disagreed with the views expressed by Mr. Trad. Further responses from the general Australian community held the view that Mr. Habib is innocent until proven guilty, and that his appearance in a court of law should judge on the matter, not by claims made by some individuals.
Mr Hopper is working with Mr Habib to gather information for potential legal action and compensation claims stemming from his detention at Guantanamo Bay, and from claims NSW police released Mr Habib’s home address to the media.
“We’re looking at all potential causes of action against all potential litigants,” Mr Hopper said
Update:
Keysar Trad was asked by IslamicSydney to respond to the comments he made in relation to this story and he responded accordingly:
” At no point have I ever doubted Mamdouh Habib’s innocence, integrity or credibility. I stand by him 100%. My only criticism is that if he would have been better advised to prove his innocence by answering full all the questions in the 60 Minutes interview”. Mr Trad also said that ” I don’t blame him, I blame his advisors. If he was to approach us we would support him with the highest qualified legal team to ensure he gets the best advice”.