Al-Qa'ida-linked mum refused visa

as posted here

ASIO has refused to renew the passport of Sydney mother Rabiah Hutchinson, based on a new security assessment that says she continues to support politically motivated violence and would be likely to engage in activity that might "prejudice the security of Australia or another country" if she were to travel abroad.

The ASIO assessment follows an application by Ms Hutchinson in March to have her travel document restored so she can visit family members overseas.

Rejecting the application by Ms Hutchinson, who has past links with al-Qa'ida and Jemaah Islamiah figures, the agency advised: "ASIO reporting indicates Hutchinson continues to adhere to a hardline interpretation of Islam and demonstrates a willingness and capability to radicalise individuals to undertake politically motivated violence and support Islamic extremist causes overseas."

The assessment noted Ms Hutchinson "has not been directly involved in violence in the past and is unlikely to be directly involved in the future".

However, it said if she were to travel "she will again gravitate towards extremist elements and revert to her previous role of facilitator and radicalising influence". It said she could also be involved in "providing financial or other support for violent jihadist organisations, facilitate fundraising or act as a courier".

Ms Hutchinson rejected the assertions that she has had a radicalising influence.

"Show me one place where I have done that. I don't have to. Anywhere I have been, the people believe exactly the same as me," she said.

Since returning to Australia from Iran in 2003, Ms Hutchinson said she rarely leaves her home as she is under constant surveillance. She said the suggestion of her providing "financial or other support" to terrorists was "ridiculous".

"What's the 'other support'? Working in hospitals and building wells? (They say) what I was doing in Afghanistan was 'politically motivated violence' -- taking care of orphans and working in hospitals was 'politically motivated violence'. And what do you mean 'financial support?'

"That al-Qa'ida needs a couple of hundred dollars from me every three or four years to sustain itself?"

Her passport was first cancelled in 2004 because of her links to Islamic extremists, including senior members of al-Qa'ida, Jemaah Islamiah and the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jemaah Association, a fundamentalist group led by Melbourne's Sheik Mohammed Omran.

Ms Hutchinson would not be drawn on whether she supports the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, saying she could be arrested for expressing her views. "You realise it's 25 years' jail now? To say you support the Afghans, it's part of support for terrorism."

She said the ASIO assessment showed the double standards of the West's "war on terror".

Ms Hutchinson is one of 43 Australians who have had their passports cancelled or denied on national security grounds since November 2001.

as posted here