An Indian doctor who was jailed in Australia on terror charges said in an emotional interview broadcast today that supporting a terrorist organisation was against his nature and he would not have stayed silent if he had known of his relatives’ alleged involvement in a failed British attack.

Mohammed Haneef flew from Brisbane, Australia, to Bangkok in Thailand today and was scheduled to leave for Bangalore, in southern India, to be reunited with his family, later in the day.

Dr Haneef was arrested at Brisbane airport on July 2 as he was about to fly to India to see his wife and newborn daughter, just days after his second cousins in Britain were arrested in a failed terror plot.

The 27-year-old doctor was released on Friday after Australia’s chief prosecutor, Damian Bugg, said there was no evidence to support the charge that Dr Haneef provided reckless support to a terrorist organisation.

The terror charge arose because Dr Haneef gave his cell phone sim card to one of his second cousins, accused in a bomb plot in June, when he left Britain for Australia a year earlier.

In a paid interview recorded on Saturday and broadcast on Australia’s Nine Network today, Dr Haneef said supporting a terror organisation was against his nature. “I never imagined, even in the remotest corner of my brain, that I would be labelled with such a defaming thing,” he said.

Appearing close to tears, Dr Haneef said if he had suspected his relatives, Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed, were planning bombings in Britain, he would not have kept it to himself. “I would have let the parents know first, who are the main sufferers now,” Dr Haneef said. “I really feel for them.”

Reporters at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport asked Dr Haneef how he felt to be free. “Fine, thank you,” he replied, giving a thumbs up sign and expressing thanks to everyone who supported him in his legal battle in Australia.

Kevin Andrews, the Australian Immigration Minister, said yesterday that the doctor was free to leave the country following his release from jail Friday, but that his work visa remained cancelled.

Before leaving Brisbane early today, Dr Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, who was travelling with his client, told reporters that Dr Haneef was leaving Australia voluntarily and had not been deported.

“Mohammed is very homesick and is pining for his wife and child, and he is anxious to get back and see his mother,” Mr Russo said.

Dr Haneef flew first class to Bangkok, with his cousin, Imran Siddiqui, and Mr Russo. It was not clear who paid for the flights.

Mr Russo said Dr Haneef would appeal against the Immigration Minister's decision to revoke his work visa on character grounds at a court hearing in August.

Mr Andrews said today that the withdrawal of the terrorism charge against Dr Haneef did not change the evidence that led to the revocation of his Australian work visa.

“Nothing has changed in terms of the circumstances in which I had to make a decision concerning Dr. Haneef,” Mr Andrews told Australia’s Seven Network television.

There have been mounting calls in Australia for the doctor to be allowed back to work and the Gold Coast Hospital where he was working has said Dr Haneef’s job is waiting for him if he regains the visa.

British police have charged Sabeel Ahmed, 26, with withholding information that could have prevented an act of terrorism. Sabeel Ahmed was the recipient of Dr Haneef’s sim card, his brother, Kafeel Ahmed, is believed to have set himself ablaze after crashing an explosives-laden Jeep into Glasgow Airport in Scotland and remains in hospital with critical burns.

Explore World News

• World Agenda

• Iraq News

• US & Americas News

• Europe News

• Middle East News

• Asia News

• Africa News

• Ireland News

Times Recommends

• Michael Jackson: Not the final chapter
• Indian Army spends10m rupees on golf buggies
• Brüno toned down for 15 rating