After seizing Abyan from Villawood this morning (Friday 16 October), the Immigration Department has flown her to Honiara, in an extraordinary and desperate effort to avoid court action that might have prevented her from being removed to Nauru.
A Federal Court hearing in Melbourne convened late this afternoon was told that Abyan was already out the country and that it was intended that she be flown from Honiara to Nauru later tonight.
Abyan was brought from Nauru to Brisbane on Sunday night (11 October) in a distressed state. She was then flown from Brisbane to Sydney on Monday 12 October.
Despite being told that she would see in-house counsellors, she has not seen any counsellors or received any medical advice. At the time of her removal from Villawood, steps were underway for her to be able to consult with independent counsellors.
“At no time has Abyan indicated to any advisers that she longer intended to proceed with the termination. Abyan has not been properly medically treated since she was sexually assaulted,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“The department has wilfully ignored the medical advice that Abyan not be returned to the place of her assault. They were in such a rush to get her out of the country, they could not even wait for a flight to Nauru.
“I sat with Abyan on Tuesday at Villawood where she made it clear that she wanted to see counsellors regarding the termination of her pregnancy. She has been denied the right to seek advice from doctors. She said she wanted to thank all those who had helped her get to Australia, ‘from the bottom of my heart’ and hoped to be able to ‘regain my health, wellbeing and energy.’
“That hope has been ripped from her, by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.”
Abyan said at the time, “I cannot go back to where this happened to me; I cannot go to where I was raped. What happened to me there (on Nauru) is what caused me to run away from Somalia. What happened to me in Somalia is what happened to me there (ie in Nauru).”
“The department’s efforts to remove Abyan have solved nothing. She was brought to Australia, last Sunday, because she needed urgent medical care. She has lost 10kgs in a month. She must be brought back to Australia, where she can get the treatment and care she needs.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713.
