After 7 years, Qasim can go free
Published on Jul 17, 2005
Australia's longest-serving immigration detainee, Peter Qasim, has been granted a visa. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says Mr Qasim received his visa last night after a series of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) checks. Mr Qasim's lawyer, Alexis Goodstone, says the detainee is excited by the prospect of freedom.
"He's very excited," she said. "The tone of his voice changed yesterday following the grant of the visa and I could really detect a major amount of excitement in his voice and just excitement of being free and being able to pursue some kind of normal life."