Habib US visa lawsuit delayed

2009-05-28 10:39

Russel Contreras

Boston - A judge has delayed a lawsuit involving a South African scholar who was denied a visa and barred from attending speaking engagements in the United States.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the US government, arguing Adam Habib was denied a visa in 2007 because he denounced the Iraq war. He wants to visit the United States to speak to scholars.

ACLU lawyers say excluding Habib violates the free speech rights of organisations that invited him to speak.

The State Department says Habib was barred because he has "engaged in terrorist activities".

Oral arguments were due to have started on Wednesday. But US District Judge George O'Toole jnr gave the US government six months to gather evidence that showing Habib's speech via video conference would be as good as a live speech.

- SAPA