Some Refugees in Papua New Guinea Sew Their Lips Shut

A number of refugees on the island of Papua New Guinea have sewn their lips shut in protest against their conditions. According to a report by AFP on Wednesday, about 15 refugees held in a detention center in Papua New Guinea have sewn their lips shut, and around 400 of them are on hunger strike. The report states that an Egyptian refugee has been hospitalized after swallowing three razor blades. A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Immigration, without detailing the dimensions of these protests, stated, "A small number of refugees have harmed themselves and others are on hunger strike." The Australian government sends all illegal refugees to detention centers on the islands of Manus or Nauru in Papua New Guinea and even if asylum is granted, they are forced to reside permanently on these islands. Previously, the UN Committee Against Torture had informed the Australian government that the conditions of refugees placed in Manus and Nauru are a form of "cruel, inhuman, and illegal punishment." According to this report, the committee also stated that new Australian laws making it easier to return refugees to their home countries "could constitute a violation of the Convention Against Torture." Australia signed the Convention Against Torture in 1989 and is legally obligated to implement it. However, the country has recently added an amendment to its immigration laws that, according to the UN, "has made it easier to send refugees to countries where they may be tortured," thus contradicting international laws. Among the asylum seekers in Australia, there is a significant number of Iranians, some of whom are not in good conditions. About a year ago, following protests by refugees on Manus Island, an Iranian refugee named Reza Barati was killed and 69 others were injured. Also, last month, the lawyer of an Iranian refugee in Australia, who has been on hunger strike for more than a month and a half and whose visa application has been rejected by the government, announced that this refugee has requested not to be resuscitated if he loses consciousness. AFP quoted John Lawrence, the lawyer of this refugee, stating that this 33-year-old has been trying to obtain asylum in Australia for over four years but is currently in a state of legal uncertainty.