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Aussie Hicks May Get Rich on Gitmo Story

Released prisoner could get $1M for TV, book, magazine rights

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 1, 2008 8:20 AM CST

(Newser) – A worldwide media bidding war has erupted for rights to the story of Australian David Hicks, the only Guantanamo prisoner convicted of terrorism charges, who was released a month ago from an Australian prison. If Hicks sells his story, he would  violate Australian proceeds-of-crime laws, but his advisers are resolved to do so anyway, the Australian reports.

Hicks, a onetime kangaroo skinner, trained with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, where he met Osama bin Laden, whom he describes as "lovely." Captured in 2001, he spent 5 years in Guantanamo and is now under a US-imposed gag order until March 26. The price on Hicks' story is rumored to be up to $1M.

Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks is driven away from Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, December 29, 2007. Hicks, a former kangaroo skinner who pleaded guilty to supporting al-Qaida at a U.S. military tribunal after being captured in 2001 in Afghanistan, faces strict...
Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks is driven away from Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, December 29, 2007. Hicks, a former kangaroo skinner who pleaded...   (Associated Press)
Lawyer of former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks, David McLoad, center, reads Hicks'release statement to the media outside Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007.  Confessed terror supporter David Hicks was released from the Australian prison Saturday after completing a U.S.-imposed...
Lawyer of former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks, David McLoad, center, reads Hicks'release statement to the media outside Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks is escorted to reception before walking out of the Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide in this  December 29, 2007, file photo.  A former Guantanamo Bay detainee who became the first person convicted by a military tribunal at the U....
Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks is escorted to reception before walking out of the Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide in this December 29, 2007, file photo. A...   (Associated Press)
Supporters show the placards after former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks walked out of the Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007.  Confessed terror supporter David Hicks was released from the Australian prison Saturday after completing a U.S.-imposed sentence for aiding...
Supporters show the placards after former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks walked out of the Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007. Confessed terror...   (Associated Press)
Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks' father Terry talks to the waiting media after his son's release outside Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007. Confessed terror supporter David Hicks was released from the Australian prison Saturday after completing a U.S.-imposed...
Former Guantanamo terror prisoner David Hicks' father Terry talks to the waiting media after his son's release outside Yatala high security prison in the southern city of Adelaide Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007....   (Associated Press)
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