The Australian Government has issued connecting visas to 4 refugees who have been detained for about 8 years in Australia’s maritime detention camps and immigration detention centers.
As a result, all 4 refugees have been allowed to live temporarily within the Australian community. At the same time, the Australian Government continues to insist that refugees on merger visas not be granted permanent residency.
Ahmed Zaheer Azizi, an Afghan refugee who is currently one of four people who have been granted connection visas, said he was glad he could not believe he was no longer a prisoner.
“I am just happy to be free. I was imprisoned for 8 years and today I am released. I am very happy, “said Assisi, an Afghan refugee.
Last weekend, ACC and two refugees were released from the Melbourne Park Hotel, which serves as an alternative location for detention, and one refugee from the Melbourne Immigration Transit Camp.
“I could not describe how I felt in this moment. They released me after 9 years. But my friends are still in prison, ”said Hamid Kadimi, an Iranian refugee.
“I got a connection visa. But my fellow friends (refugees) did not get visas. We have been living together as one family for nine years and must continue to fight for the release of these refugees. ”
It is noteworthy that these refugees were released due to the ongoing pressure to spread the corona infection in the Australian hotel where the refugees may have been staying.
The Center for Asylum Seekers said that since December 2020, 180 refugees have been issued connection visas and released into the community. At the same time, the government is concerned that another 85 refugees have not been released and are still being held in immigration detention camps.