Manus refugee wins international human rights award

Abdul Aziz Muhamat, a Sudanese refugee unlawfully held for over five years on Manus Island, has won the prestigious Martin Ennals Award, presented in Geneva yesterday, 13 February.

Advertising of the Martin Ennals award on the streets of Geneva

“Australia’s treatment of refugees has again been exposed and condemned on the world stage,” said Ian Rintoul, a spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “It is fantastic that Aziz has been chosen as the 2019 winner of the Martin Ennals award. It is a fantastic answer to Scott Morrison’s scaremongering in the aftermath of the medical transfer bill being carried.

“Aziz, himself a victim of Australia’s offshore detention regime, has been recognised for his tireless efforts to defend the human rights of those being abused by the Australian government on Manus. Australia is already known for its abuses of human rights on Manus and Nauru. It will be even more infamous after this.

“It is great that the award has been made in Europe where so many politicians are talking openly of adopting the ‘Australian solution’ rather than upholding the rights of refugees in their own countries.”

Details of the award and other finalists (Eren Kskin (Turkey), Marino Cordoba Berrio (Columbia)) can be found here.

Aziz told the award ceremony, “This award sheds light on the very cruel refugee policy of the Australian Government. It also brings international attention to the dangers and ill-treatment faced by refugees all over the world, including in countries that claim they uphold the Refugee Convention”, he declared.

Dick Oosting, Chair of the Martin Ennals Foundation, said, “The Australian Government must meet its international obligations and put an end to these inhumane practices.”

Below are photos of (i) Aziz in Geneva outside the UN headquarters; (ii) Aziz with one of the award finalists, Marino Cordoba Berrio, and the director of the ward, Michael Khambatta.

 

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

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