Not helping Paul.

AN $8000 chartered return flight from Melbourne to Sydney is on standby to rush an accused terrorist to the bedside of his dying brother.

Izzydeen Atik, 25, formerly of Williamstown, is charged with belonging to, funding and supporting a terrorist organisation.

He was arrested in Sydney last November as part of the AFP counter-terrorism Operation Pendennis.

Ok so Izzydeen has not been proven guilty yet and we should presume innocence until proven otherwise. However, the comments of magistrate Paul Smith are concerning.

It seems to me if we live in a civilised and decent community we should be able to make arrangements where somebody in Mr Atik’s position can visit close relatives in order to say goodbye,” he said.

I agree wholeheartedly, but does Mr Atik? If he is found guilty of “belonging to, funding and supporting a terrorist organization” then he obviously has no regard for anyone else’s right to say goodbye, or any other right for that matter.

To counter Paul Smith’s high and mighty mumblings, I would point out that in a civilized and decent society, people do not plot and plan other peoples deaths on a mass scale.

I wonder at what point do we realize that the barbarians are not at the gates, the bastards are inside pretending to be teddy bears, and people like Paul Smith are not doing the situation any favors. None at all.

Operation Pendennis Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Stephen Clark, said the AFP were concerned about providing security to Atik, police officers and the general public if they were required to escort him to Sydney.

He said a chartered flight which would cost $4000 each way was on standby because both major commercial airlines have refused to transport Atik.

He said significant police resources would be required to escort Atik, provide security on the ground at airports in both Melbourne and Sydney and conduct a reconnaissance operation at Westmead Hospital.

No local commercial airline will take him. Australian Federal Police are concerned for public safety and the safety of their officers. But hey, we are civilized right Paul? Hang the expense and the risk! We’re too civilized to worry about that.