In a move started by Afghan Australian lawyer Arezo Safi, the calls to “free” David McBride from prosecution as a “first step” towards repairing the Afghan community’s relationship with the Australian Defence Force.
From 2014 to 2016, McBride, a former Defence Force lawyer, made information on alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan available to the ABC, which reported the details in 2017.
The following year he was charged with five national security-related offences, including theft of Commonwealth property and unlawfully disclosing a Commonwealth document, which carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment.
McBride pleaded not guilty to each of the charges at a May 2019 preliminary hearing and he's currently awaiting trial.
The allegations were reviewed in the Brereton Report, released on November 6, which found
Whistleblower David McBride speaks to the media after appearing in the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra, in 2019. Source: AAP
Ms Safi told SBS Pashto she feels McBride should be “celebrated instead of prosecuted” for his actions.
“You feel dumbfounded and you think to yourself if the report was released, why is he still facing charges. If we want to repair the damaged reputation of the Australian Defence Force, this is the first step forward, to free David McBride,” she said, affirming that she believes the war crimes report "vindicates" him.
“I felt very passionate about it because as an Afghan there's another perspective. I do feel thankful and grateful to him.
“The stories that have come in the report are things that we have heard about but it's never been confirmed by an official, especially by an Australian.”
Ms Safi said she felt “ignited” to start the petition to thank McBride “on behalf of the Australian Afghan community”.
The report with redactions by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry in Canberra Source: AAP
“We feel this is the first step to repair our relationship with the Australian military. He has done the right thing by us by putting these reports forward.”
Over four years, Justice Paul Brereton interviewed more than 400 witnesses and examined tens of thousands of documents.
The final report included allegations that senior commanders forced junior soldiers to kill defenceless captives in order to "blood" them for combat.
It recommended referring 19 current and former soldiers for potential prosecution.
The release of the report was received with “shock” by Afghans in Australia, who said
The report recommended that Australia compensates the families of Afghan people unlawful killed. Source: AAP Image/POOL/Paul Miller
“I think what the Australian general public really want is transparency. At the moment, a lot of people find that, if anything, David McBride has been transparent,” Ms Safi said.
“I think Mr McBride is actually being celebrated for his bravery by the general public. And that's quite motivating for him and I understand that he's quite happy and thankful to everyone that's signed this petition.”
The petition has the support of the Afghan community Support Organisation NSW President Nadir Azami who believes that dropping charges will mark a "vital step forward".
“The community commends the government and defence forces for their act upon finding out about the investigation [findings]. And so we want them to go all the way and finish this goodwill and drop charges against Mr McBride because that will show the good intention of the government in supporting all whistleblowers in the future."
The Chief of the Australian Defence Force Angus Campbell offered a "sincere and unreserved" apology to the Afghan people following the release of the report.
Nadir Azami. Source: Your Media Sydney
Prior to the report's release, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he received a phone call from Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who "expressed his deepest sorrow over the misconduct by some Australian troops".
SBS Pashto has contacted the Australian Defence Force for comment about the petition.
