Abdel Bari Atwan - Brisbane Visa Affair

Brisbane Visa Affair

In a scheduled visit to the Brisbane Writers Festival in September 2007, Atwan's visa was reported as being blocked by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Subsequently, this turned out to be over-enthusiastic reporting. According to ASIO, Atwan had only been delayed by the Australian Intelligence for less than four weeks. ASIO is reported to have said "It is false to suggest it's anything to do with the media campaign or conspiracy theories, We had to seek some additional information. Dr Atwan's application was treated like everybody else's."