Australia releases dozens of refugees after years of detainment
March 2, 2021, 11:40 am

Australia releases dozens of refugees after years of detainment

Protesters from the Refugee Action Coalition hold placards during a demonstration outside the offices of the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection in Sydney, Australia, April 29, 2016. (Reuters)

Australia has freed dozens of refugees after holding them in detention for years under a policy designed to deter people from seeking asylum in the country, advocates said Tuesday.

More than 60 refugees were released over the past two days from hotels and detention centers in Brisbane, Sydney and Darwin, according to the Refugee Action Coalition and legal representatives.

They were granted temporary visas after spending up to eight years in Australian detention on Pacific islands before being transferred to the country for medical treatment.

Canberra has sent anyone attempting to arrive in Australia by boat to Papua New Guinea’s Manus island and Nauru, under a hardline approach it says is designed to prevent people-smuggling.

The group’s release comes after more than 60 refugees were freed in similar circumstances in December and January.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton told local radio in January that it was “cheaper” for the refugees to be released into the community than to be held in detention.

Noeline Balasanthiran Harendran of Sydney West Legal and Migration said the releases came after several refugees took court action against the Australian government challenging the validity of their detention.

“From our point of view, it’s because we’ve been able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they’re being held with no purpose... to hold people in detention you need to have a purpose,” she told AFP.

Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, urged the government to release about 75 other refugees still being held in Australia.

More than 250 also remain in limbo in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

“They’ve got no idea why they’ve been left behind and no idea what the future holds,” he told AFP.

The Department of Home Affairs said government policy remained “steadfast” that the refugees “will not settle permanently in Australia”.

“Transitory persons have third country migration options and are encouraged to finalize their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG, or return to their home country,” a spokesperson said.

However, Dutton has admitted it would now be “very hard” for the government to make that happen.

The United Nations, human rights groups and doctors have condemned Canberra for its treatment of detainees, as stories of dire living conditions, self-harm and violence emerged from the offshore camps over the years.

source: AFP

Image source: Reuters

Levant

Four involved in toppling of slave trader statue in England plead not guilty Scottish government to release legal advice on Salmond court action

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”