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| Sydney siege gunman claimed to be an Iranian spy to seek asylum in Australia – rolling report | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.06am AEST02:06 | |
| My colleague Michael Safi has some more detail on the persecution claims made by Man Haron Monis when he applied for asylum in Australia: | |
| Monis’ claim for a refugee visa rested on two claims of persecution: the first for a book of subversive poetry, the second that he had converted to the Ahmadi sect of Islam, a minority movement that believes the Islamic prophet appeared in India in 1853. It is considered heretical by orthodox.Monis said his contact with Ahmadis, including a conversion in London, brought him under the scrutiny of the Iranian secret police, VAVAK. | |
| He admitted to [the Iranian secret police] VAVAK some academic work for the Ahmadi but denied any conversion to the Ahmadi faith,” Gormly said. | |
| 11.03am AEST02:03 | |
| Man Haron Monis alleged two basis of persecution when he applied for asylum in Australia in 1996 and went into great detail about them in an interview with the immigration department in 1997. | |
| Monis claimed he converted from Shia to Ahmadi while in Iran and the conversion was preceded by correspondence with head of the sect in London. He handed the supposed letter to the department of immigration in 1997. | |
| Monis says he was eventually summoned by the Iranian ministry of intelligence and security to account for his Ahmadi acquaintance. | |
| This is a fiction, but what is possibly true is that he approached agencies, according to Gormly. | |
| It is worth mining his story and examining it, not for truth or likelihood, but for way he used it over his years in Australia. | |
| Monis claimed he was asked to spy and over time became an appraised spy. Monis claims he became disenchanted and desperately unhappy and feared persecution if he didn’t comply. He began to write anti-government poetry. | |
| There is problem with the audio and we have briefly adjourned while it is fixed. | |
| 10.51am AEST01:51 | |
| Monis was a “tall man” according to Gormly, he was quite large but does not seem to have played sport or taken part in the military. There is no evidence he experienced acts of violence as a young person in Iran. | |
| Monis and his wife in Iran lived in “relative luxury” in Iran when he married. It was of a higher standard than the house he grew up in. | |
| The inquest is shown a video of Monis receiving a Hujjat al-Islam, it is an honorific title meaning “authority on Islam” or “proof of Islam”. It is a title awarded to scholar in the Shia faith. His rank is described as of a priestly level. | |
| In the video he is called to walk to a senior person and has something placed on his head then kisses the man on each cheek. He look to be in his late 20s or early 30s. | |
| The inquest hears there is not much more evidence of how Monis spent his time in the early 90s. | |
| Updated at 10.53am AEST | |
| 10.42am AEST01:42 | |
| Monis' high school certificate from Iran. He scored 16/20 academically and 20/20 for discipline. #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/LR4VxvcVwI | |
| 10.41am AEST01:41 | |
| Gormly says that Monis’ partner, Amirah Droudis, had originally sought to appear at the inquest, but has since changed her mind and withdrawn. Gormly described her role in Monis’ life as “modest”. | |
| My colleague Michael Safi has written this useful brief on Droudis: | |
| Droudis, you might remember, is accused of killing Monis’ former partner Noleen Hayson Pal, who was stabbed and set alight in the stairwell of an apartment complex in western Sydney in April 2013. | |
| She was charged with murder and Monis as an accessory, but both were granted bail 12 months ago, a magistrate describing the case against the pair as “inherently weak”. | |
| That all changed in the week following the siege after videos emerged that appeared to show Droudis “endorsing acts of violence”, according to prosecutors. She is currently on remand awaiting trial. | |
| 10.39am AEST01:39 | 10.39am AEST01:39 |
| Gormly says the inquest has worked at “trying to understand the man who walked into the Lindt cafe that morning”. | Gormly says the inquest has worked at “trying to understand the man who walked into the Lindt cafe that morning”. |
| He was a complex and secretive man about his own life, even though he could be very public about his views. It took some effort to find and verify information about him but once it commenced a large amount of info emerged. | He was a complex and secretive man about his own life, even though he could be very public about his views. It took some effort to find and verify information about him but once it commenced a large amount of info emerged. |
| Gormly says the inquest is likely to gain the most assitance from oral evidence. | Gormly says the inquest is likely to gain the most assitance from oral evidence. |
| He says Monis was born in Borujerd in Iran under a different name, Mohammed Manteghi, and he has taken on many names in Australia. This would usually slow investigation but Monis had a “curious feature of administrative compliance”. | |
| He kept records dating back many years including correspondence, he lodged tax returns, he registered name changes, he notified authorities when he changed his address. At one stage he filled out a police form notifying a protest. | He kept records dating back many years including correspondence, he lodged tax returns, he registered name changes, he notified authorities when he changed his address. At one stage he filled out a police form notifying a protest. |
| The contrast between compliance and illegality is a thread that runs through most of his time in Australia. | The contrast between compliance and illegality is a thread that runs through most of his time in Australia. |
| Monis spoke classical Arabic and Farsi. He spoke English fairly well from his early days in Australia. His English was “very good” by the time he reached his politically active phase. He was brought up Shi’ite, he appears to have had a conventional education, undertaken in various schools in Tehran. | Monis spoke classical Arabic and Farsi. He spoke English fairly well from his early days in Australia. His English was “very good” by the time he reached his politically active phase. He was brought up Shi’ite, he appears to have had a conventional education, undertaken in various schools in Tehran. |
| Updated at 10.52am AEST | |
| 10.30am AEST01:30 | 10.30am AEST01:30 |
| Jeremy Gormly SC is talking about why we need a coronial inquest into the deaths of Katrina Dawson, Tori Johnson and Man Haron Monis: | Jeremy Gormly SC is talking about why we need a coronial inquest into the deaths of Katrina Dawson, Tori Johnson and Man Haron Monis: |
| The affects on families and friends of violent suspicious death is corrosive and disturbing. It is always vital for a civilised society to investigate suspicious deaths...the result is these type of deaths can be avoided. | The affects on families and friends of violent suspicious death is corrosive and disturbing. It is always vital for a civilised society to investigate suspicious deaths...the result is these type of deaths can be avoided. |
| 10.25am AEST01:25 | 10.25am AEST01:25 |
| counsel assisting Jeremy Gormly SC says some counter terrorism issues need to be taken into account during the inquest and some closed hearings are likely to be necessary. He also says some of the coroner’s findings may not be made public. | counsel assisting Jeremy Gormly SC says some counter terrorism issues need to be taken into account during the inquest and some closed hearings are likely to be necessary. He also says some of the coroner’s findings may not be made public. |
| We are seeking goo answers not just quick ones. | We are seeking goo answers not just quick ones. |
| 10.21am AEST01:21 | 10.21am AEST01:21 |
| Gormly is outlining the timetable for the inquest. He says the final public segment will not be ready for considerable time. The inquest still has to talk to police from the United Kingdom and Queensland on siege and terrorism management. | Gormly is outlining the timetable for the inquest. He says the final public segment will not be ready for considerable time. The inquest still has to talk to police from the United Kingdom and Queensland on siege and terrorism management. |
| He says people who were taken hostage during the siege will not give evidence until after August. | He says people who were taken hostage during the siege will not give evidence until after August. |
| 10.18am AEST01:18 | 10.18am AEST01:18 |
| Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly, SC, is now doing the opening address. He says witnesses over the next two weeks will be people who knew Man Haron Monis. | Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly, SC, is now doing the opening address. He says witnesses over the next two weeks will be people who knew Man Haron Monis. |
| They include people who worked with him, people involved in academic courses he undertook and people in government departments to which he caused trouble. | They include people who worked with him, people involved in academic courses he undertook and people in government departments to which he caused trouble. |
| We will hear details of Monis’s early life and his charges over sending abusive letters to families of Australia soldiers. | We will hear details of Monis’s early life and his charges over sending abusive letters to families of Australia soldiers. |
| There will also be people who knew Monis on a social or friendship level but Gormly says there are only a few witnesses who fall into that category because he appears to have led a relatively isolated existence. | There will also be people who knew Monis on a social or friendship level but Gormly says there are only a few witnesses who fall into that category because he appears to have led a relatively isolated existence. |
| 2011 was when Monis was last treated for mental health issue. | 2011 was when Monis was last treated for mental health issue. |
| His mental health problems appear to be modest, mental illness may not provide full answers about his motivations for the siege.” | His mental health problems appear to be modest, mental illness may not provide full answers about his motivations for the siege.” |
| 10.12am AEST01:12 | 10.12am AEST01:12 |
| Coroner Michael Barnes has also addressed concerns about whether police should be involved in an investigation of the conduct of their colleagues. He says there is no alternative to this arrangement, “and no basis for concern”. | Coroner Michael Barnes has also addressed concerns about whether police should be involved in an investigation of the conduct of their colleagues. He says there is no alternative to this arrangement, “and no basis for concern”. |
| They are part of a civilian led interdisciplinary team. | They are part of a civilian led interdisciplinary team. |
| 10.11am AEST01:11 | 10.11am AEST01:11 |
| Coroner Michael Barnes is now addressing the room. He says much evidence has been gathered that has given the inquest a clearer idea of whether there were opportunities to prevent the deaths of Katrina Dawson, Tori Johnson and Man Haron Monis. | Coroner Michael Barnes is now addressing the room. He says much evidence has been gathered that has given the inquest a clearer idea of whether there were opportunities to prevent the deaths of Katrina Dawson, Tori Johnson and Man Haron Monis. |
| Barnes said while many people have moved on with their lives since December 16, for the loved ones of Dawson and Johnson, their deaths remain a dominant feature of every day and will continue to do so. | Barnes said while many people have moved on with their lives since December 16, for the loved ones of Dawson and Johnson, their deaths remain a dominant feature of every day and will continue to do so. |
| He asks, is there evidence that should have caused Monis to be deported? Once the siege started could it have been curtailed before its conclusion? | He asks, is there evidence that should have caused Monis to be deported? Once the siege started could it have been curtailed before its conclusion? |
| Some people involved in the siege believe the inquest has been brought on too quickly while their feelings are too raw, Barnes reveals. | Some people involved in the siege believe the inquest has been brought on too quickly while their feelings are too raw, Barnes reveals. |
| I accept their views but the inquest can not be delayed. Speed is of the essence. It would be unforgivable if we delayed and another similar incident were to occur before we learnt the lessons of the last. | I accept their views but the inquest can not be delayed. Speed is of the essence. It would be unforgivable if we delayed and another similar incident were to occur before we learnt the lessons of the last. |
| A central question of the inquest: | A central question of the inquest: |
| Was Monis a so-called lone wolf prosecuting an Isis style terror attack, or a deranged individual pursuing a person private grievance in a public manner | Was Monis a so-called lone wolf prosecuting an Isis style terror attack, or a deranged individual pursuing a person private grievance in a public manner |
| Barnes says some of the people involved in the siege object to being referred to as “the hostages” and do not want to be defined for the rest of their lives by one man’s crime. He says the inquest will do its best to respect that and so will we on the blog, though given the circumstances it may difficult at times. | Barnes says some of the people involved in the siege object to being referred to as “the hostages” and do not want to be defined for the rest of their lives by one man’s crime. He says the inquest will do its best to respect that and so will we on the blog, though given the circumstances it may difficult at times. |
| 9.50am AEST00:50 | 9.50am AEST00:50 |
| Good morning, you join us this Monday as the coronial inquest into the deaths of the Sydney siege hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson and the man who took them hostage, Man Haron Monis, is about to resume. This inquest has been a huge undertaking – there are more than 100 witnesses and it will run in blocks into next year. This is the first block and will last two weeks. We have already had a directions hearing which you can read here. | Good morning, you join us this Monday as the coronial inquest into the deaths of the Sydney siege hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson and the man who took them hostage, Man Haron Monis, is about to resume. This inquest has been a huge undertaking – there are more than 100 witnesses and it will run in blocks into next year. This is the first block and will last two weeks. We have already had a directions hearing which you can read here. |
| The state coroner Michael Barnes is overseeing the inquest and counsel assisting Jeremy Gormly SC and junior counsel assisting Sophie Callan will deliver the opening address today. It is expected to be quite lengthy, about six hours, and could perhaps take up the entire day. | The state coroner Michael Barnes is overseeing the inquest and counsel assisting Jeremy Gormly SC and junior counsel assisting Sophie Callan will deliver the opening address today. It is expected to be quite lengthy, about six hours, and could perhaps take up the entire day. |
| The inquest has been unable to provide a complete witness list at this stage but we do know the first witness will be the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Angelo Memmolo. Whether we will see him on the stand at all today is not known yet. | The inquest has been unable to provide a complete witness list at this stage but we do know the first witness will be the officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Inspector Angelo Memmolo. Whether we will see him on the stand at all today is not known yet. |
| There is still quite a lot we do not know about the Sydney siege and I have had a look at that at length here. Some of the 18 hostages have spoken about their experience inside the cafe and you can read their stories here. | There is still quite a lot we do not know about the Sydney siege and I have had a look at that at length here. Some of the 18 hostages have spoken about their experience inside the cafe and you can read their stories here. |
| Updated at 10.00am AEST | Updated at 10.00am AEST |