Dear Mr Morrison

I am friend of the Centre for a Compassionate Society, which meets every week in the electorate of Melbourne. I live in the electorate of ***. We have committed to writing a letter to your government every week until all refugees and asylum-seekers who remain on Nauru and in PNG under Operation Sovereign Borders are appropriately re-settled. We also seek humane treatment for refugees and asylum seekers on-shore. We are copying this letter to the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister for Immigration, the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, and to our local members of parliament.

We were so pleased that Mehdi Ali and his cousin Adnan flew to freedom in the USA this week. Like others who have left, Mehdi’s joy was tempered by his knowledge that his brothers continue to be tortured in indefinite detention by your government. Before he left, Mehdi wrote about his mixed feelings having seen others leave: “Of course, we all rejoice in this hell for the freedom of every individual, but it is obvious that the reality of our captivity is felt more than ever by the freedom of one person, and it torments our minds and souls. Why can’t we all be free together?”

Prime Minister, can you answer his question? The continued detention of these men serves no public policy purpose, and is at odds with every human right instrument to which we are a signatory. Another refugee, still detained in the Park Hotel, addressed a rally today: 

Mr Morrison says he is a Christian. I thought Christianity is about mercy, sympathy, empathy, care and love. What kind of Christian detains innocent people for 9 years? What kind of parent detains other parents for 9 yrs? Imagine how would you feel, not able to see your kids, care for your kids, for 9 years. We don’t ask anything of this government, we don’t need anything. Just open these doors and let us go. 

Yours sincerely

*

Send your letter to:

The Prime Minister via his website HERE.

Ms Karen Andrews: karen.andrews.mp@aph.gov.au (Minister for Home Affairs).

Mr Alex Hawke: alex.hawke.mp@aph.gov.au (The Immigration Minister).

Ms Kristina Keneally: senator.keneally@aph.gov.au (Shadow Minister for Immigration and Home affairs).

And to your local Federal MP.