Refugee advocates are extremely concerned for the welfare and whereabouts of an Iranian refugee who has been “disappeared” from Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation (BITA) detention centre around 7am, today, Thursday, 29 October.
The refugee, Farhad Rahmati, was unexpectedly taken from the BITA gym room by a number of Serco guards.
Some time later, his property, including his phone, was collected from his room by Serco guards. Such action usually indicates that the person is being transferred to another detention facility, or is being removed.
But hours after Farhad was snatched, he has not been seen at the Kangaroo Point hotel, the other detention facility in Brisbane, raising concerns that Farhad has again been victimised for his outspokenness about conditions in detention.
Farhad has particularly highlighted the plight of the hundreds of people transferred from Manus and Nauru under the Medevac laws, but who are still being held in detention in Australia.
It was the forced removal of Farhad Rahmati from the Kangaroo Point hotel to the BITA in June this year that began the blockade and protests at the hotel-prison.
Farhad gave a much publicised interview with the ABC in Brisbane two days ago.
The Refugee Action Coalition is calling for Border Force to reveal Farhad’s whereabouts and for him to be immediately returned to the Kangaroo Point hotel.
“This is a blatant attempt by Border Force to use their arbitrary powers to control, victimise and punish refugee and asylum seekers who ‘step out of line’, ” said Ian Rintoul spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “Farhad and all those being held in detention should be immediately released.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
