Novak Djokovic’s Mother Claims Tennis Star Subjected To ‘Torture’ After He Wins Visa Court Battle – As It Happened
By Matthew Weaver, Josh Taylor and Niall McVeigh
Tennis player says he wants to compete in Australian Open after he is released, but mother claims ‘he was subjected to torture’
Novak Djokovic thanks judge and takes to tennis court after release
Djokovic wins appeal against visa cancellation
Andy Murray trolls Nigel Farage over Djokovic visa row
Refugees left behind as Djokovic supporters celebrate
‘I’m not vaccinated’: Djokovic’s interview with Australian Border Force
One of the things I missed in the press conference is that Djokovic’s mother alleged that he has been subjected to torture.
According a BBC translation of the press conference from Belgrade, she said:
He was subjected to torture, to harassment and we will hear even more about what he had to go through. And of course, he fought against that system and against the government because he thought he had the right to be there with a with a visa that he got.
She gave no more details.
The president of the Serb parliament, Ivica Dacic, said he expected Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, to revoke Djokovic’s visa on Tuesday, Milivoje Pantovic reports.
“Obviously the Australian authorities will decide to deport Djokovic, who will then not be able to enter Australia for the next three years,” said Dacic, a former Serbian prime minister whose Socialist Party is part of the ruling coalition.
Dacic said the incident would leave “a lasting mark on relations between Serbia and Australia. “Every state has the discretionary right to refuse or allow entry to any person, but it never happens to prominent people such as Djokovic,” he said.
“That is something you rarely see. In general, [Australia’s] behaviour has been shameful and disgraceful.”
Djokovic continues to polarise opinion. He has become the poster-boy for those opposed to Covid restrictions, like Nigel Farage and the right-wing actor Laurence Fox founder of the Reclaim party.
Others question whether he should be allowed to compete and want to see him held to account for appearing in public without a mask after getting a positive Covid test.
Djokovic’s participation in the tournament rests with immigration minister, Alex Hawke, who in 2020 threatened to deport backpackers who breach Covid rules.
Hawke is expected to make a decision on Tuesday.
Earlier his office issued this statement:
Following today’s Federal Circuit … determination on a procedural ground, it remains within immigration minister Hawke’s discretion to consider cancelling Mr Djokovic’s visa under his personal power of cancellation within section 133C(3) of the Migration Act. The minister is currently considering the matter and the process remains ongoing.
Novak Djokovic’s mother claims he was subjected to ‘torture’
When the family is asked questions about what Djokovic was doing the day after he tested positive for Covid, they stopped the press conference.
Djordje said: “This press conference is adjourned thank you for attention.”
Djokovic was pictured in public last month without a mask after testing positive.
The Djokovic family have been answering questions in English.
His brother, Djordje said:
We’re grateful for the justice system. We love Australia. I admire Judge Kelly and the way led the whole court process because I think it was very detailed. It was very thorough and it was very neutral.
Novak has been called many names. He is only fighting for the liberty of choice.
He confirmed that Novak won’t be answering questions as his father suggested earlier.
Novak’s father Srdan says:
Over the past few days, it’s been very, very difficult for everyone in the world who is free thinking. But he is mentally extremely, extremely strong.
They took away all his rights his rights, as a human being. He refused to revoke his visa.
They gave him no right to prepare his defence for several hours, and they took away his phone. Fortunately they gave him back his phone. He contacted his legal team who mounted a fantastic defence, that they could not match.
This is a huge win for Novak, his family and the free world. He respected everything that was asked of him. He only wanted to go there to play tennis and that right he wanted to take away from them.
Justice and the rule of law have prevailed. The judge who presided over the case has shown that not for second was Novak the guilty party.
The judge was fantastic, he simply respected the facts. He took the only decision that was possible which was to release Novak.
Uncle Goran, says:
I’d like to thank our President and our prime minister for their efforts to persuade Australian authorities to have better treatment of Novack to treat him better.
Novak’s mum Dijana, says:
We’re here to celebrate the victory of our son Novak. He always fought for justice. He’s done nothing wrong.”
He went there to win that tournament. This situation has been extremely difficult. There has been a spectrum of emotions: sadness, fear, disappointment.
There were moments when he didn’t have his mobile with him. we had no idea what was happening.
I want to thank everyone in the world who who stood up and supported him in Melbourne in front of that, so-called hotel.
This is his biggest win in his career, it is bigger than any Grand Slam.
Djordje adds: “Our family are very pleased that justice and truth, have prevailed.”
Novak’s brother, Djordje, opens the family press conference.
He says: “We need to send love to Nole, and to help him to overcome this very difficult situation as a winner at the end.”
He adds: “We want to thank the justice system of Australia we would like to thank what Judge Kerry wrote in this case. He did it neutrally paying attention to detail.”
Here’s a transcript of Djokovic’s interview with the Australian Border Force released by the Federal Circuit Court in Melbourne.
LibDem Treasury spokeswoman, Christine Jardine, has written an opinion piece in the Scotsman on the Djokovic row.
Kishor Napier-Raman, a politics reporter for Crikey, points out that Djokovic’s lawyers take a tough line on vaccinations for entry into its offices.
Boris Johnson: ‘I believe in vaccination’
Boris Johnson has responded to a question about Djokovic by urging people to get vaccinated.
Asked if Djokovic should be allowed to compete at Wimbledon if he has not been vaccinated, the prime minister said:
I think it’s important for the Australian authorities to make their own dispositions. All I would say about about Novak Djokovic, against whom I’ve play tennis by the way – he’s pretty good, is I believe in vaccination. And I think it’s a wonderful thing to do.
Djokovic supporters surrounding a car leaving his lawyers’ office. It is unclear if Djokovic was in the car.
Craig Kelly, leader of the rightwing United Australia Party who has been criticised for spreading falsehoods over Covid, has called for Djokovic to be allowed to stay.
