Australia's Uighur urges Government to take Guantanamo detainees

PHOTO

A US soldier in a guard tower overlooking Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay. Australia's Uighur community is urging the Federal Government to accept some of the Chinese Muslim detainees at the prison. [AFP]

Last Updated: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 19:22:00 +1000

Australia's thousand-strong Uighur community is calling for the Federal Government to accept at least some of the Chinese Muslim detainees from Guantanamo Bay.

It comes after the US president Barack Obama last week asked Australia to take around 10 detainees from China's Uighur minority.

Abdul Salam Alim from the East Turkestan Association of Australia says the men would be welcome and that the Uighur community has a good record in Australia.

"We are a very peace loving harmonious community, we are ready to give our full support towards the people if they are accepted."

"We urgently request the Australian government accepts them if not all of them at least some of," he said.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says allowing the men to resettle in Australia would help right some of the human rights abuses in Guantanamo bay.

The federal government has said it'll consider the request on a case by case basis.