Riza, an Iranian asylum seeker on Nauru, has been flown to Australia for urgent medical treatment for a broken jaw and facial injuries after a savage assault by a local bus driver.
The assault took place on Sunday, 15 November. Reza was medivacced to Australia on Monday, 16 November.
The assault took place following a routine bus ride from the single men’s camp. A group of around six asylum seekers began a sing-a-long in the bus, when the bus driver took offence and demanded that they stop the singing and clapping.
When the asylum seekers refused and argued with the driver, he drove to the central police station. The driver demanded that the police intervene. But the police refused after asking whether any of the passengers had any complaints. The asylum seekers on the bus insisted they were just ‘sharing the love’.
The Nauruan driver then drove a short distance from the police station, pulled Reza off the bus and delivered two punches, smashing his jaw, and eye, leaving him unconscious.
Reza was taken to the Nauru hospital and then to the IHMS clinic in the old detention centre.
On Monday morning, 16 November, Reza was flown to Australia for emergency treatment.
No action has been taken by the Nauruan police against the bus driver.
“The bus driver is readily identifiable; there is no shortage of witnesses, but so far the Nauruan police have done nothing to bring the attacker to account,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Just like the un-investigated sexual assaults, this is another instance of locals carrying out acts of violence against asylum seekers and refugees with impunity. The local police are completely unwilling to investigate or lay charges against local Nauruans.
“Rather than being protected, offshore processing has left refugees vulnerable to more acts of violence and abuse. Nauru must be closed.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
