When: Thursday 3 August 2023, 9am – 12 noon, assemble at 8:45am
Where: District Court, Sir Samuel Way Building, corner Victoria Square and Gouger Street
Join us to support the 55 people who have been seeking compensation due to being held in immigration detention, mostly at Baxter, usually for 5 years or more, having experienced mistreatment and humiliation and many experiencing forms of torture.
Grope Hamilton and Shine Lawyers state they can bring any carers, support people and/or relatives with them to the open court.
These people have been waiting for years and their cases languish in court.
5 people between the ages of 40 – 60 years have died waiting, and it is highly likely there are many more in the same situation across the country.
Danyal Shafiq, whom I knew personally and walked alongside him from the days of detention, died of a heart attack last July aged 48 years.He was still on a Removal Pending Bridging Visa despite the UNHCR stating he was a legitimate refugee, and having been in Australia over 23 years, 7 of those in detention.
Such an indictment on our system that has so ignored adherence to human rights principles.
This is an opportunity to highlight that this is not a new phenomena but one of long-term systemic racism and human rights violation in Australia and a time to support the 55 people as they seek justice.
Please join the 55 people and us on Thursday 3rd August at 8:45am – some of us can go inside some can stay outside and bring banners of support if you can.
Mary Allstrom and Peyman Davishzadeh, Neami National
For latest statistics on people held in immigration detention facilities in Australia see the Refugee Council’s latest report – ‘Statistics on People in Dentention’ published 31 May 2023