Death of Another Iranian Refugee on Nauru Island

An organization advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia reported on Friday, June 15, the death of another Iranian refugee on Nauru Island. According to AFP, the Iranian refugee, whose name has not yet been released, was 26 years old, suffered from depression, and apparently committed suicide. Reports indicate that the refugee had been sent to the island nation of Nauru by the Australian government about five years ago along with his mother and brother. This is not the first time an Iranian refugee has committed suicide in Australian detention camps. In August 2017, Australian officials announced that an Iranian citizen named 'Hamed Shamsiripour,' aged 28, had apparently 'hanged himself.' In an effort to deter refugees from entering Australian territory by sea, the government has been sending these refugees to the islands of Nauru and Manus for several years. However, from the beginning, the living conditions in the camps on these two islands and the processing of the refugees' cases have been criticized by human rights advocates and the United Nations. For instance, in November 2017, the UN warned about the emergency situation in Australia's detention center located in Papua New Guinea, urging Canberra officials to address the tensions between refugees and relevant authorities. In this context, the Australian Department of Home Affairs has only stated that it is aware of the Iranian refugee's death but will not comment further. Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition described the suicide victim as 'a young and beloved man who would do anything for his brother and mother.' According to Mr. Rintoul, the Australian government has 'consistently' ignored the pleas for help from refugees in Nauru and Manus, and 'all refugees and asylum seekers' living on these two islands 'suffer from some form of mental illness.' According to this human rights advocate, since 2013, the suicide of the young Iranian is the fifth death that has occurred in Nauru. According to the Refugee Action Coalition, there are still 1,600 people being held in the camps on the two islands of Nauru and Manus. Research and statistics published by the Australian Parliament indicate that the majority of refugees in Manus and the other camp in Nauru are Iranians.