David Hicks

Hicks keen to clear name and be a boring person - National - smh.com.au

A FREE man seven years after his arrest in Afghanistan, David Hicks has signalled his wish to clear his name and remove his terrorism conviction from his record.

Almost seven years to the day after he went into custody and one month before a new US president takes office and closes Guantanamo Bay, Mr Hicks regained his freedom yesterday with the expiry of the control order covering his actions.

Mr Hicks's pastor, the Reverend Graham Long of the Wayside Chapel in Sydney, said Mr Hicks knew about the promise by the US president-elect, Barack Obama, to shut the US military prison where he was held for 5½ years.

"He's asked whether the closure of Guantanamo Bay might mean that the instrument that convicted him will be disbanded, and whether this might raise questions about the legality of the process that held and convicted him. I'd say that if this leads to something happening in America that could [lead to a pardon], then David will be lining up for it."

Mr Hicks, 33, had been imprisoned as a suspected terrorist since 2001. His 12-month control order followed seven months in solitary confinement in Adelaide's Yatala prison and the years in US military custody. He was released to Australia last year after pleading guilty to supporting terrorism.

Mr Hicks went off "into the wide blue yonder" yesterday, Mr Long said. "He's feeling enormous relief at being able to lead a normal life. He has a friend who's very ill, and David hadn't been able to stay with him because he'd be sleeping in the wrong bed for the conditions imposed by his control order. Now the order's been lifted, he can do that and other similar things."

Mr Hicks is now "as free as you and me", said his Adelaide lawyer, David McLeod, "and I'm sure he will enjoy being able to breathe the air a bit deeper".

Mr Hicks plans to spend Christmas with his family in Adelaide. His father, Terry, said Mr Hicks would be "concentrating on his rehabilitation".

Mr McLeod said Mr Hicks had "complied to the letter with the control order regime, not spoken out or said or done anything that could be interpreted as divisive or inflammatory or controversial or justifying of his actions".

Mr Hicks had undertaken volunteer work at a nursery and environmental agencies, committing himself "to return to mainstream society as a constructive and productive member", Mr McLeod said.

Mr Long dined with Mr Hicks in Sydney last week, and observed the legacy of long imprisonment.

"When we go out to dinner, he's more comfortable in a booth than at an open table. He feels very conspicuous, even if he's not."

Mr Long said Mr Hicks had "been left with a very bad back due to the conditions [in Guantanamo Bay]. He does a lot of exercise to help it, but I suspect he'll be dealing with it for the rest of his life."

Mr Hicks wants nothing more than "to be a boring person", he said, "and I think he's got everything it takes to achieve that."

Mr Long said Mr Hicks's prime regret was having signed the guilty plea. "I think he did what any of us would have done, which was do what he had to do to get out of there."

Mr Hicks declined requests to be interviewed or photographed.