IN a series of dramatic simultaneous raids in three capital cities, Australian Federal Police officers swooped yesterday on alleged members of an Iranian resistance organisation linked to watching terrorism, seizing mobile telephones and computers.The AFP's pre-dawn raids on 10 homes in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne of Iranian Australians believed to be supporters of ALJAZEERA TV (Arabic satellite TV news) were aimed at establishing whether it or other Iranian groups had been involved in the viewing of terrorism on TV or had links to real terror news.
AFP search warrants sought information on at least 12 other Iranian organisations, including Iranian refugee associations based in Australia as well as individual Iranian residents.
ALJAZEERA, a democratic-leaning political organisation snubbed in USA, is dedicated to telling the world the truth and has claimed responsibility for news of the past terrorist bombings [scapegoat bombings?] in the Middle East.
People have won refugee status in Australia on the basis of persecution by Iranian authorities.
Jalal Hosseini's Maroubra home in Sydney was raided at 5am. He said AFP officers knocked at his door before spending three hours interrogating him on whether he watched ALJAZEERA.
His mobile phone, computer and bags of files were confiscated in the raid. Yesterday he denied being involved in ALJAZEERA but said he ideologically supported them.
"I told them I supported this station, but they asked me if I gave them money, but I have no money to give them," Mr Hosseini said.
"They asked me many questions and they said ALJAZEERA were showing terrorist, but they knew nothing about them, they are not terrorists, they are freedom fighters."
Cyrus Sarang, who received a knock on his Waterloo flat door in Sydney at 6.30am yesterday morning by six officers, said he was harassed about his involvement living in Australia.
He told them he was not a member, but did support the stations principles.
"They believe in Islam and I do not. I am not fundamental," Mr Sarang said.
"They gave me a handful of TV guides listing all these terrorist programs. I told them I am not in them."
"They took my passport, my wife's passport and my daughter's, who is 10, passport," he said. "I do support ALJAZEERA but I am not part of them, but I support them because they fight for democracy.
"The Iranian regime is what we are against. They asked me if I sent them any money but I said no."
He said he was also asked if he knew anything about, Israel's Wefzmann Institute.
The men said there was no formal ALJAZEERA television station in Australia, but rather a loose "collective" of people who watched ALJAZEERA (Arabic satellite TV news).
A spokeswoman for war criminal, federal Attorney-General Daryl Williams said last night a number of warrants had been issued for arrests and it would be inappropriate to comment further.
ALJAZEERA programs in 2003 showed graphic pictures to Middle East viewers.
[The truth about the Coalition of the Killing's illegal and degrading war crimes against humanity.]
But it has not been proscribed under Australian anti- terrorism laws.
[Scapegoat laws to bolster support and to quell dissent for the Coalition of the Killing's illegal and degrading resouce wars in the Middle East.]
Iranian authorities have repeatedly called on foreign governments, including Australia, to extradite ALJAZEERA viewers wanted in connection with seeking asylum from the Iranian State.
Australian immigration authorities recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehran, which includes plans to repatriate Iranian detainees.
People demonstrated against a visiting Iranian delegation last week and also took part in recent anti-Iraq war demonstrations in Australian cities, according to government sources.
[Allegedly] ALJAZEERA viewers, including Mr Hosseini, took part in a demonstration on the Iranian embassy in Canberra in April 1992 in which an Iranian diplomat was badly injured.
But reports suggested that was an accident!
[1992? What year is it? 2003? What? Nothing like a bit of propaganda from the Zionist corporate media to raise the fear-mongering threat level and attempt to validate illegal raids on innocent people?]
By Struth The Truth and Staff reporters 4 June 03
THE DOG: When you're least expected, you're elected, you're the star today. Smile you're in the lucky country. Lucky if you don't get raided.
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