Armin, the 37 year-old Bosnian refugee who was on his eighth day of hunger strike was taken to hospital after an ambulance was called to the Brisbane detention centre (BITA) late yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 1 December).
He remains in hospital being treated for complications arising from his hunger strike protest.
A solidarity, protest vigil will be held at the Royal Brisbane Hospital this evening, 7pm (Wednesday 2 December).
Armin is continuing to demand that he be released from punitive detention in BITA’s Moreton compound where he has been held since the beginning of November.
Armin’s punitive detention in the high security Moreton compound in November came after months of increasing harassment from Border Force and Serco officers for standing up to abuses inside the detention centre. In June this year he released video clips showing an attempted suicide and the presence of armed police inside BITA during the restraint and forced sedation of a Vietnamese man.
Armin is also demanding that his return to Bosnia be organised before Christmas this year.
Armin signed to voluntarily return to Bosnia in October this year, but he has been told that he ‘won’t be going any time soon.’
Armin, became a refugee after fleeing the war in Bosnia. He was 17 years old when he left Croatia in 2001, to join his mother in Australia after she had been recognised as a refugee fleeing the war.
“There is no justification for Armin’s punitive detention. We are calling for him to be immediately released from Moreton compound,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “He could be given a bridging visa and released from detention while the government makes arrangements for him to leave Australia.”
“His detention in the high security compound is yet another instance of unaccountable punishment used by Border Force and Serco to prevent any scrutiny of Australia’s detention regime.”
Three more refugees were moved from the Kangaroo Point hotel to BITA this morning as Border Force moves to shut down the visible refugee protests at the Kangaroo Point hotel.
Last week, Border Force confiscated banners and prevented refugees accessing the second floor hotel balcony that overlooked Main Street and was the scene for the very visible refugee protests since March.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
