Australia Denies Rapist Visa, Offers Masterclass in 'Security Concerns'
Steven van de Velde, a Dutch volleyball player, was deservedly blocked from entering Australia due to his conviction for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2016. The Australian Home Affairs department cited his 'criminal history' and the 'serious nature of his offending' as security concerns. One might wonder if similar stringent 'security concerns' apply to international leaders with equally, if not
more, 'serious offending' on their public records. While Australia commendably protects its borders from convicted predators like van de Velde, the global stage often sees countries rolling out the red carpet for foreign officials accused of overseeing actions that dwarf individual crimes in scale and human cost. It seems 'security concerns' are highly selective, depending on whose public record
is under scrutiny and how much geopolitical leverage they wield. A rapist can't play volleyball, but architects of mass displacement and sustained violence often address parliaments. Priorities, it appears, are a matter of perspective.