A YEAR SINCE REZA BARATI KILLED, MANUS STILL UNSAFE

Tomorrow, February 17, marks a year since 23-year-old Iranian asylum seeker Reza Barati was tragically murdered in an Australian-run detention centre on Manus Island.

“Reza came seeking our help. Instead, he was murdered by the very people employed to protect him, funded by our Government,” ASRC CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis said today.

“Reza’s friends and relatives describe him as a humble, gentle man. While on Manus, he volunteered to teach computer skills to other asylum seekers.

“His terrible death, in the sub-standard conditions of the Manus Island detention facility, is a direct consequence of Australia’s mandatory, indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

“One year on and there have been two arrests but still no one brought to justice for his murder.

“One year on and there are still more than one thousand men locked up on Manus in unsanitary, unsafe conditions, with no certainty about their future.

“The Abbott Government has had 18 months to process people and sort out this mess. Instead, it continues to pour billions of dollars each year into locking up less than 2000 people on Nauru and Manus.  This is more botched policy, with the Government failing in its duty of care.

“As last week’s Children in Detention Report shows, the mental, emotional and physical impacts of indefinite, mandatory detention are taking a devastating toll on people.

“Regardless of where you stand on asylum seeker issues, it’s a grave concern that our Government sanctions ill-treatment and abuse in institutions they control.

“It’s time to draw a line and close Nauru and Manus detention centres for good.”

Taking Action to remember Reza

A year ago, 15,000 Australians marked Reza’s death in candlelight vigils across the country.

Tomorrow at sunset, people across the country will light a candle in their window in memory of Reza and in hope for a better way forward.

With our friends at GetUp, we’ll be collating photos and messages from around Australia, for an online display of hope and compassion here: www.lightthedark2015.tumblr.com

If you’re on Twitter or Instagram, you can post a photo of you and your candle using the #LightTheDark hashtag. If you’re not, you can submit your photo and message of hope here. 

We’re also asking people to join our campaign to shut down Nauru and Manus and bring people to Australia to guarantee their safety.  Go to www.asrc/rightthingtodo to find out more.

Media enquiries: Mary Fall 0407 683 664 / mary.f@asrc.org.au