MADRID, 11 (EUROPA PRESS)
Amnesty International Australia’s advisor on refugees, Graham Thom, has assured that the case of Serbian Novak Djokovic, held in a Melbourne hotel upon arrival in the oceanic country after his visa was canceled, highlights Australia’s “shameful policies” about refugees.
“Djokovic has caught a glimpse of what refugees have been experiencing for years due to the Australian government’s shameful policies on refugees. For example, Mehdi Ali, a 24-year-old Iranian held in the same hotel as Djokovic, Park Hotel, recounted to Amnesty Australia: ‘The jail and misery that pervades my room has haunted me for almost nine years,’ “Thom explained.
However, he believes that the case of the world’s number one has put “the focus” on “this terrible situation.” “It is a violation of international law and has caused suffering and death to people whose only ‘crime’ was seeking safety on the Australian coast,” he said. “People trapped indefinitely in this brutal system, whether in so-called ‘alternative places of detention’ (APOD) within our borders or on Nauru, are suffering … And many suffer trauma and illness on a daily basis due to their seclusion, “he said.
“These people have fled some of the most dangerous places in the world and have the right to freedom, security and a promising future for themselves and their families. They include doctors, musicians, business executives, social workers and athletes. They need our urgent aid. The Australian population cannot remain impassive while the political class looks the other way before the suffering of the people, “he continued.
Therefore, Thom emphasizes that “there are more options.” “Amnesty International is working hard to bring people to Switzerland or Canada and to support their resettlement in the United States. New Zealand has been offering to host 150 refugees a year for five years. We call on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to end this unjust system Please accept New Zealand’s offer and allow these people to finally start rebuilding their lives, “he said.
According to Amnesty International, the Australian government has been sending asylum seekers by boat since 2012 to facilities in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Around 40 people remain held in APODs, called Park Hotels, hotels and motels that the Australian government uses instead of large centers to house detained migrants.
