Australian court rules terrorists can be imprisoned longer
Associated PressCANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s highest court on Wednesday upheld a law that can keep extremists in prison after they have served their sentences. Five of the seven High Court judges dismissed a constitutional challenge by convicted terrorist Abdul Benbrika who remains in a Victoria state prison despite his 15-year sentence expiring in November last year. But the commission told the government last year that authorities need to be satisfied that there is “no other less restrictive measure that would be effective in preventing the unacceptable risk.” New York-based Human Rights Watch has warned that such orders could lead to indefinite and arbitrary detention based on little proof. Australia has increased the reach of continuing detention orders to include inmates whom Attorney General Christian Porter described as having “clearly demonstrated terrorist sympathies” despite not being in prison for terror-related crimes. Britain, Australia’s former colonial master, had a type of indeterminate sentence known as imprisonment for public protection for seven years until the government abolished such sentences for violent and sex offenders convicted after 2012.
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Convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika wins High Court bid to restore his Australian citizenship
ABCHigh Court extends detention of terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika beyond his sentence
ABCHigh Court to consider extended detention of terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika after his sentence
ABC
Muslim cleric Abdul Nacer Benbrika stripped of his citizenship by Australia
Op IndiaTerrorist prisoner Abdul Nacer Benbrika could be kept in detention after sentence expires
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