"God loves justice,''

Hundreds attend Hicks prayer service

February 10, 2007 02:38pm

"And what is increasingly evident in the incarceration of David Hicks is the lack of justice in his detention.''

MORE than 800 people attended a prayer service in support of Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks in central Melbourne today.

Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier spoke at the service at St Paul's Cathedral, which is opposite Federation Square.

The service included a prayer for a fair trial, for Hicks' mental and physical health and for the victims of terrorism.

"God loves justice,'' Archbishop Freier said today. "And what is increasingly evident in the incarceration of David Hicks is the lack of justice in his detention.''

Anglican diocese of Melbourne media director Roland Ashby said the service had attracted "a broad range of people''.

"Anglicans, but also people who don't usually come to church but were very happy the church is saying something about this.''

Hicks, a 31-year-old Adelaide father of two, has been held at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for more than five years.

The US last week began the process of laying charges against Hicks, who is accused of taking part in terrorist operations in Afghanistan.