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Journalism of Courage
The lawyer who fought for Indian doctor Mohammad Haneefs compensation claim was today awarded by an association of lawyers for his dedication to the cause and pursuit of justice.
Rod Hodgson,who leads the Queensland practice of Maurice Blackburn,was awarded with the Lawyers Alliance Civil Award,in honour of his efforts in Haneefs campaign.
Haneef had been wrongly detained in Australia in connection with a UK terror plot and was awarded compensation by the federal government in 2010.
Hodgson accepted the award in Queensland in front of over hundreds of people at the Alliances state conference.
Hodgson was chosen for this years award because of his passionate pursuit of justice,and his dedication to ensuring those most marginalised by circumstances such as personal injury and discrimination under the law,were better able to find redress through his efforts, Australian Lawyer Alliance Queensland president,Adam Tayler said.
As an advocate providing access to justice,Rod has also been involved in cases that benefit not only individuals but the community as a whole, he said.
In December last year when Australian government agreed to give a substantial compensation to Haneef,Hodgson had said that this closes the book on what was a stain his countrys reputation.
Haneef was detained in 2007 on suspicion of being involved in the failed attack on the Glasgow International Airport in the UK.
He was taken into custody and charged with recklessly giving support to a terrorist organisation when his mobile phone SIM card,which he had left with his cousin before coming to Australia from the UK,was linked to the attack.
His detention was the longest without charge in recent Australian history,and his case caused a lot of outrage in India as well as in Australia.
