Source: ABC News
A Sydney Muslim Shia cleric has had his request for a permanent visa denied.
Immigration Minister Senator Chris Evans has decided not to intervene on behalf of Sheikh Mansour Leghaei for national security reasons. Iranian-born Dr Leghaei has been in Australia for 16 years and his youngest child was born here.
He has faced deportation several times, following an adverse security assessment over claims Dr Leghaei denies.
After he exhausted all other legal avenues earlier this year he turned to Senator Evans for ministerial intervention.
In a statement released today, Senator Evans said he would not intervene on behalf of Dr Leghaei against ASIO's assessment.
But the Minister says the cleric's wife, Marzieh Hosseini, and his son, Mohammed Ali Leghaei, have been granted permanent residency.
Leaving the Department of Immigration office in Sydney this morning, Dr Leghaei said he was very upset by the decision.
"It's very difficult to express it because on the one hand I was happy that my son got his visa, and my wife," he said.
"But on the other hand I knew this was just a political step."
Dr Leghaei says his 14-year-old daughter will now have to leave the country, despite being born in Australia.
Senator Evans says while he understands the disappointment of the local community, he has acted in Australia's national interest.
Dr Leghaei says he has been given six weeks to leave the country.
