Eight-day old Farus, born to a Rohingya asylum seeker in Brisbane, was taken from the hospital to the Brisbane detention centre late yesterday afternoon (Thursday 14 November) to be united with his parents and two siblings.
Since being separated from the baby last Sunday afternoon, Latifar, Farus’s mother, had only been allowed to see her baby from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Farus’s father, Niza, was not allowed to see his son at all since last Saturday.
“There were some happy scenes at the detention centre last night,” said Ian Rintoul, “But now the threat of being sent to Nauru is hanging over their heads.”
“The treatment of this family is nothing short of despicable and reveals the heartlessness at the centre of the Coalition’s refugee policies.
“When the Minister sent Latifar to Nauru in September, as far as he knew, she was pregnant with twins. Then he denied she even existed. He said that Nauru had adequate maternity facilities, but that is clearly not the case. Who knows if Farus would have survived if he had been born on Nauru? Infant mortality on Nauru is five times higher than it is in Australia.
“Not only are there no adequate maternity facilities on Nauru, it is also clear that new babies could not be properly cared for in the primitive conditions of the family camp detention centre. How could formula and bottles be prepared when the only running water in the camp is at the toilets and showers?” asked Rintoul.
“The Immigration Department has deliberately created a hell-hole for everyone sent to Nauru. Bringing other family groups from Nauru to Australia should be the first step to closing it completely.
“Scott Morrison’s lies and his ‘no exception’ rule has blown up in his face. The Immigration Minister should now guarantee that the Rohingyan family will not be sent back to Nauru.
“Other families, and unaccompanied minors are being kept in indefinite detention in Australia living without proper education and support, with the constant uncertainty of being sent to Nauru. Morrison’s ‘no exception’ rule is a cruel and pointless policy.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 73.
