VILLAWOOD IRANIAN ASYLUM SEEKER DIES IN HOSPITAL – VICTIM OF IRANIAN
REGIME; VICTIM OF MANDATORY DETENTION
Asylum seekers supporters are shocked and saddened at the announcement
that an Iranian asylum seeker has died in Liverpool hospital in the
early hours of Monday morning, 27 February.
It is understood that the man, just 45 years old, suffered a heart
attack at the detention centre on Saturday morning and was admitted to
hospital.
His wife and two children are believed to still be in Iran.
“This is an absolute tragedy, made worse by the fact that he should
never have been in Villawood detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul,
spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“The government knows that it cannot send Iranian asylum seekers back
to Iran and yet they are kept locked up in detention. He arrived in
Sydney by plane in April 2010.
“He was a member of Iranian opposition group, involved in the
uprisings against the Iranian regime in 2009. He was arrested and
jailed. He was a victim of the Iranian regime and now he is a victim
of mandatory detention.
“The Iranian community in Sydney had made numerous requests for him to
be released into the community, where they could support him. But they
had been ignored. Psychiatric reports recommending his release were
also been ignored.
“The government has no excuse for keeping Iranian asylum seekers in
detention. We call on the government to end the misery of those in
detention. The Minister has said that the government would release
asylum seekers into community detention or with bridging visas.
“But little is happening particularly for those in long term
detention. All the Iranian and stateless asylum seekers, Bidoons and
Faili Kurds should be released immediately. We don’t want Ali’s death
to be just another statistic of those who have so needlessly died in
detention.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
