Tamimi visa revoked
Palestinian activist Bassem Tamimi had his visa to Australia revoked because “there is a risk that members of the public will react adversely” to his comments while in Australia.
PALESTINIAN activist Bassem Tamimi had his visa to Australia revoked because “there is a risk that members of the public will react adversely” to his comments while in Australia.
Tamimi, who was due to speak on Tuesday this week at a Students for Palestine function in Sydney, was convicted by an Israeli military court in 2011 of “sending people to throw stones”, including children, at anti-settlement demonstrations in the West Bank.
The ABC released Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) documents explaining why Tamimi’s visa was revoked.
“The department has recently been made aware of information that indicates there is a risk that members of the public will react adversely to Mr Tamimi’s presence in Australia regarding his views of the ongoing political tensions in the Middle East,” the internal DIBP department document said.
When contacted by The AJN, a DIBP spokesperson said it would not comment on specific details but noted that the Australian Government supports freedom of speech and freedom of religious and political beliefs.
“The exercise of this freedom does involve a responsibility to avoid vilification of, inciting discord in, or representing a danger to, the Australian community,” the spokesperson said.
“Under the Migration Act 1958, there are a number of situations where a visa can be cancelled, such as where a person provides incorrect information to the Department in order to obtain a visa, where a person breaches visa conditions, or where the presence of a person in Australia is or may be, or would or might be, a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community, or a segment of the Australian community.”
B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said the government has taken the right step.
“This is a strong reaffirmation that anyone who spreads the blood libel that Israelis arrest Palestinian children to harvest their organs, encouraged students to become freedom fighters for Palestine, who has used and filmed his own children in confrontation with IDF soldiers, who promotes violent activities such as stone throwing and who has stated that he wants to end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state, is not welcomed here,” Abramovich said.
Two different online petitions have called on the government to reinstate Tamimi’s visa, but they have only attracted 3000 supporters.
Tamimi was still due to speak at the Students for Palestine function via video link.
JOSHUA LEVI
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