Hedley Thomas on Haneef

IS it a flagrant abuse of process and of the criminal justice system by the Howard Government as it reaches into its bag of political tricks to whip up fears of terrorism in a desperate bid to turn around its political stocks before the Federal Election?

IS it a flagrant abuse of process and of the criminal justice system by the Howard Government as it reaches into its bag of political tricks to whip up fears of terrorism in a desperate bid to turn around its political stocks before the Federal Election?

Or is it an entirely reasonable, sensible and measured response that can be perfectly justified in law and in the court of public opinion?

Those are alternative perspectives after Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews decided to rely on Section 501 of the Migration Act to cancel Dr Mohamed Haneef's visa for failing a character test due to his family ties.

The decision means Dr Haneef, who had an unblemished character, is to be transferred to the Villawood Detention Centre, three hours after a Queensland magistrate decided he should be granted bail for a terrorism-related offence.

The criminal charge is that Dr Haneef was "supporting a terrorist organisation" by giving his mobile phone SIM card, which had unused credit, to his second cousin, Dr Sabeel Ahmed, one year ago.

Ahmed has been linked to the terror attacks in London and Glasgow on June 29 and June 30, but prosecutors in Australia do not allege that Dr Haneef was involved in either act, or that the SIM card was used to hatch either act.

Ever bought a long black coffee for a suspicious-looking Muslim? If he or she is ever embroiled in terrorism, burn the receipt - you may have unwittingly supported a terrorist organisation.

In my view, the only person to fail a character test was Kevin Andrews. What do you reckon?