Entrepreneur Dick Smith is encouraging convicted terrorism supporter David Hicks to speak publicly about his ordeal at Guantanamo Bay, but says he shouldn’t profit by telling his story.
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| Convicted terrorism supporter David Hicks (centre, in green shirt), leaves Yatala Prison in Adelaide upon his release on December 29, 2007. (SKY News) |
The gag order on Hicks expired on Sunday, but it is still unclear whether he will talk to media.
The former Guantanamo Bay inmate has received a number of requests to tell his story once the gag order imposed by US military officials expired.
His father Terry has said his son has yet to decide whether to talk.
David Hicks’ lawyer, David McLeod, has said the former prisoner was emotionally fragile and lacking in confidence.
However, Mr Smith, who has acted as a mentor to David Hicks by offering him job seeking advice, said he should tell his side of the story.
But, he said, Hicks was convinced his account of his detention would be distorted, making him reluctant to speak out.
“I’ve spoken to David Hicks a number of times and I’ve encouraged him to tell his story and also write a book, because I think it is going to be very informative for people not to make the same mistake that David has made,” Mr Smith told Macquarie Radio.
“He is also utterly convinced that anything he says will be distorted because that is what happened while he was at Guantanamo Bay.
“I’ve said to him: `Look there are plenty of good journalists around who will just tell it as it is, and the story is quite different from what we have heard from the Americans’.”
Mr Smith said he didn’t think Hicks should profit from speaking to the media, or writing the book, a situation the former Guantanamo Bay detainee said was “unfair”.
“I don’t think he should profit from crimes, so I’ve always said he shouldn’t accept money,” Mr Smith said.
“But he says he’s never committed any crime.
“He says to me that he has never ever supported terrorism and that it is quite unfair that he shouldn’t even earn $5 an hour to write his book, and I said: `Well, that is how it is’.
“My view is that he should do it all for nothing, and then let people make up their own mind.”
© 2008 AAP
